Treatment of hemoglobin (hbf/hbg) related diseases by inhibition of natural antisense transcript to hbf/hbg

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of HBF/HBG.

The present application claims the priority of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 61/174,719 filed May 1, 2009 which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention comprise oligonucleotides modulatingexpression and/or function of HBF/HBG and associated molecules.

BACKGROUND

DNA-RNA and RNA-RNA hybridization are important to many aspects ofnucleic acid function including DNA replication, transcription, andtranslation. Hybridization is also central to a variety of technologiesthat either detect a particular nucleic acid or alter its expression.Antisense nucleotides, for example, disrupt gene expression byhybridizing to target RNA, thereby interfering with RNA splicing,transcription, translation, and replication. Antisense DNA has the addedfeature that DNA-RNA hybrids serve as a substrate for digestion byribonuclease H, an activity that is present in most cell types.Antisense molecules can be delivered into cells, as is the case foroligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), or they can be expressed from endogenousgenes as RNA molecules. The FDA recently approved an antisense drug,VITRAVENE™ (for treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis), reflecting thatantisense has therapeutic utility.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to present a summary of the invention tobriefly indicate the nature and substance of the invention. It issubmitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpretor limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

In one embodiment, the invention provides methods for inhibiting theaction of a natural antisense transcript by using antisenseoligonucleotide(s) targeted to any region of the natural antisensetranscript resulting in up-regulation of the corresponding sense gene.It is also contemplated herein that inhibition of the natural antisensetranscript can be achieved by siRNA, ribozymes and small molecules,which are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

One embodiment provides a method of modulating function and/orexpression of an HBF/HBG polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues invivo or in vitro comprising contacting said cells or tissues with anantisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides in length wherein saidoligonucleotide has at least 50% sequence identity to a reversecomplement of a polynucleotide comprising 5 to 30 consecutivenucleotides within nucleotides 1 to 570 of SEQ ID NO: 3 (FIG. 3) therebymodulating function and/or expression of the HBF/HBG polynucleotide inpatient cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro.

In another preferred embodiment, an oligonucleotide targets a naturalantisense sequence of HBF/HBG polynucleotides, for example, nucleotidesset forth in SEQ ID NO: 3, and any variants, alleles, homologs, mutants,derivatives, fragments and complementary sequences thereto. Examples ofantisense oligonucleotides are set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13 (FIGS. 4and 5).

Another embodiment provides a method of modulating function and/orexpression of an HBF/HBG polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues invivo or in vitro comprising contacting said cells or tissues with anantisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides in length wherein, saidoligonucleotide has at least 50% sequence identity to a reversecomplement of the an antisense of the HBF/HBG polynucleotide; therebymodulating function and/or expression of the HBF/HBG polynucleotide inpatient cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro.

Another embodiment provides a method of modulating function and/orexpression of an HBF/HBG polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues invivo or in vitro comprising contacting said cells or tissues with anantisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides in length wherein saidoligonucleotide has at least 50% sequence identity to an antisenseoligonucleotide to an HBF/HBG antisense polynucleotide; therebymodulating function and/or expression of the HBF/HBG polynucleotide inpatient cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro.

In a preferred embodiment, a composition comprises one or more antisenseoligonucleotides which bind to sense and/or antisense HBF/HBGpolynucleotides.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides comprise one ormore modified or substituted nucleotides.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides comprise one ormore modified bonds.

In yet another embodiment, the modified nucleotides comprise modifiedbases comprising phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate, peptide nucleicacids, 2′-O-methyl, fluoro- or carbon, methylene or other locked nucleicacid (LNA) molecules. Preferably, the modified nucleotides are lockednucleic acid molecules, including α-L-LNA.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides are administeredto a patient subcutaneously, intramuscularly, intravenously orintraperitoneally.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides are administeredin a pharmaceutical composition. A treatment regimen comprisesadministering the antisense compounds at least once to patient; however,this treatment can be modified to include multiple doses over a periodof time. The treatment can be combined with one or more other types oftherapies.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides are encapsulatedin a liposome or attached to a carrier molecule (e.g. cholesterol, TATpeptide).

Other aspects are described infra.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1:

FIG. 1A is a graph of real time PCR results showing the foldchange+standard deviation in HBF/HBG mRNA after treatment of HepG2 cellswith phosphorothioate oligonucleotides introduced using Lipofectamine2000, as compared to control. Real time PCR results show that the levelsof HBF mRNA in HepG2 cells are significantly increased 48 h aftertreatment with one of the siRNAs designed to HBF antisense Hs.702397.Bars denoted as CUR-0408 and CUR-0410 and CUR-0412 correspond to samplestreated with SEQ ID NOS: 4, 5 and 6 respectively.

FIG. 1B is a graph of real time PCR results showing the foldchange+standard deviation in HBF/HBG mRNA after treatment of HepG2 cellswith phosphorothioate oligonucleotides introduced using Lipofectamine2000, as compared to control. Real time PCR results show that the levelsof HBF mRNA in HepG2 cells are significantly increased 48 h aftertreatment with four of the PS oligos designed to HBF antisenseHs.702397. Bars denoted as CUR-1223 to CUR-1229 correspond to samplestreated with SEQ ID NOS: 7 to 13 respectively.

FIG. 2 shows

SEQ ID NO: 1: Homo sapiens hemoglobin, gamma A (HBG1), mRNA. (NCBIAccession No.: NM_(—)000559)SEQ ID NO: 2: Genomic sequence of HBF/HBG (exons are shown in capitalletters, introns in small).

FIG. 3 shows SEQ ID NO: 3: Natural HBF/HBG antisense sequence(HS.702397).

FIG. 4 shows the antisense oligonucleotides, SEQ ID NOs: 4 to 13.*indicates phosphothioate bond.

FIG. 5 shows the sense oligonucleotides, SEQ ID NOs: 14, 15 and 16. Thesense oligonucleotides SEQ ID NO: 14, 15 and 16 are the reversecomplements of the antisense oligonucleotides SEQ ID NO: 4, 5 and 6respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several aspects of the invention are described below with reference toexample applications for illustration. It should be understood thatnumerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth toprovide a full understanding of the invention. One having ordinary skillin the relevant art, however, will readily recognize that the inventioncan be practiced without one or more of the specific details or withother methods. The present invention is not limited by the ordering ofacts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/orconcurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustratedacts or events are required to implement a methodology in accordancewith the present invention.

All genes, gene names, and gene products disclosed herein are intendedto correspond to homologs from any species for which the compositionsand methods disclosed herein are applicable. Thus, the terms include,but are not limited to genes and gene products from humans and mice. Itis understood that when a gene or gene product from a particular speciesis disclosed, this disclosure is intended to be exemplary only, and isnot to be interpreted as a limitation unless the context in which itappears clearly indicates. Thus, for example, for the genes disclosedherein, which in some embodiments relate to mammalian nucleic acid andamino acid sequences are intended to encompass homologous and/ororthologous genes and gene products from other animals including, butnot limited to other mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Inpreferred embodiments, the genes or nucleic acid sequences are human.

DEFINITIONS

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including”,“includes”, “having”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used ineither the detailed description and/or the claims, such terms areintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”

The term “about” or “approximately” means within an acceptable errorrange for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill inthe art, which will depend in part on how the value is measured ordetermined, i.e., the limitations of the measurement system. Forexample, “about” can mean within 1 or more than 1 standard deviation,per the practice in the art. Alternatively, “about” can mean a range ofup to 20%, preferably up to 10%, more preferably up to 5%, and morepreferably still up to 1% of a given value. Alternatively, particularlywith respect to biological systems or processes, the term can meanwithin an order of magnitude, preferably within 5-fold, and morepreferably within 2-fold, of a value. Where particular values aredescribed in the application and claims, unless otherwise stated theterm “about” meaning within an acceptable error range for the particularvalue should be assumed.

As used herein, the term “mRNA” means the presently known mRNAtranscript(s) of a targeted gene, and any further transcripts which maybe elucidated.

By “antisense oligonucleotides” or “antisense compound” is meant an RNAor DNA molecule that binds to another RNA or DNA (target RNA, DNA). Forexample, if it is an RNA oligonucleotide it binds to another RNA targetby means of RNA-RNA interactions and alters the activity of the targetRNA (Eguchi et al., (1991) Ann. Rev. Biochem. 60, 631-652). An antisenseoligonucleotide can upregulate or downregulate expression and/orfunction of a particular polynucleotide. The definition is meant toinclude any foreign RNA or DNA molecule which is useful from atherapeutic, diagnostic, or other viewpoint. Such molecules include, forexample, antisense RNA or DNA molecules, interference RNA (RNAi), microRNA, decoy RNA molecules, siRNA, enzymatic RNA, therapeutic editing RNAand agonist and antagonist RNA, antisense oligomeric compounds,antisense oligonucleotides, external guide sequence (EGS)oligonucleotides, alternate splicers, primers, probes, and otheroligomeric compounds that hybridize to at least a portion of the targetnucleic acid. As such, these compounds may be introduced in the form ofsingle-stranded, double-stranded, partially single-stranded, or circularoligomeric compounds.

In the context of this invention, the term “oligonucleotide” refers toan oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleicacid (DNA) or mimetics thereof. The term “oligonucleotide”, alsoincludes linear or circular oligomers of natural and/or modifiedmonomers or linkages, including deoxyribonucleosides, ribonucleosides,substituted and alpha-anomeric forms thereof, peptide nucleic acids(PNA), locked nucleic acids (LNA), phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate,and the like. Oligonucleotides are capable of specifically binding to atarget polynucleotide by way of a regular pattern of monomer-to-monomerinteractions, such as Watson-Crick type of base pairing, Hoögsteen orreverse Hoögsteen types of base pairing, or the like.

The oligonucleotide may be “chimeric”, that is, composed of differentregions. In the context of this invention “chimeric” compounds areoligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemical regions, forexample, DNA region(s), RNA region(s), PNA region(s) etc. Each chemicalregion is made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide inthe case of an oligonucleotides compound. These oligonucleotidestypically comprise at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide ismodified in order to exhibit one or more desired properties. The desiredproperties of the oligonucleotide include, but are not limited, forexample, to increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increasedcellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the targetnucleic acid. Different regions of the oligonucleotide may thereforehave different properties. The chimeric oligonucleotides of the presentinvention can be formed as mixed structures of two or moreoligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/oroligonucleotide analogs as described above.

The oligonucleotide can be composed of regions that can be linked in“register”, that is, when the monomers are linked consecutively, as innative DNA, or linked via spacers. The spacers are intended toconstitute a covalent “bridge” between the regions and have in preferredcases a length not exceeding about 100 carbon atoms. The spacers maycarry different functionalities, for example, having positive ornegative charge, carry special nucleic acid binding properties(intercalators, groove binders, toxins, fluorophors etc.), beinglipophilic, inducing special secondary structures like, for example,alanine containing peptides that induce alpha-helices.

As used herein “HBF/HBG” and “Hemoglobin” are inclusive of all familymembers, mutants, alleles, fragments, species, coding and noncodingsequences, sense and antisense polynucleotide strands, etc.

As used herein, the words Gamma-1-globin, HbF A gamma, HBF, hbf, HBG,hbg, HBG 1, HBGA, HBGR, Hemoglobin gamma-1 chain, Hemoglobin gamma-Achain, Hemoglobin subunit gamma-1, HSGGL1, PRO2979 are usedinterchangeably in the present application.

As used herein, the term “oligonucleotide specific for” or“oligonucleotide which targets” refers to an oligonucleotide having asequence (i) capable of forming a stable complex with a portion of thetargeted gene, or (ii) capable of forming a stable duplex with a portionof a mRNA transcript of the targeted gene. Stability of the complexesand duplexes can be determined by theoretical calculations and/or invitro assays. Exemplary assays for determining stability ofhybridization complexes and duplexes are described in the Examplesbelow.

As used herein, the term “target nucleic acid” encompasses DNA, RNA(comprising premRNA and mRNA) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNAderived from such RNA, coding, noncoding sequences, sense or antisensepolynucleotides. The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compoundwith its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of thenucleic acid. This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid bycompounds, which specifically hybridize to it, is generally referred toas “antisense”. The functions of DNA to be interfered include, forexample, replication and, transcription. The functions of RNA to beinterfered, include all vital functions such as, for example,translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translationof protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNAspecies, and catalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitatedby the RNA. The overall effect of such interference with target nucleicacid function is modulation of the expression of an encoded product oroligonucleotides.

RNA interference “RNAi” is mediated by double stranded RNA (dsRNA)molecules that have sequence-specific homology to their “target” nucleicacid sequences (Caplen, N. J., et al. (2001) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA98:9742-9747). In certain embodiments of the present invention, themediators are 5-25 nucleotide “small interfering” RNA duplexes (siRNAs).The siRNAs are derived from the processing of dsRNA by an RNase enzymeknown as Dicer (Bernstein, E., al. (2001) Nature 409:363-366). siRNAduplex products are recruited into a multi-protein siRNA complex termedRISC(RNA Induced Silencing Complex). Without wishing to be bound by anyparticular theory, a RISC is then believed to be guided to a targetnucleic acid (suitably mRNA), where the siRNA duplex interacts in asequence-specific way to mediate cleavage in a catalytic fashion(Bernstein, E., et al. (2001) Nature 409:363-366; Boutla, A., et al.(2001) Curr. Biol. 11:1776-1780). Small interfering RNAs that can beused in accordance with the present invention can be synthesized andused according to procedures that are well known in the art and thatwill be familiar to the ordinarily skilled artisan. Small interferingRNAs for use in the methods of the present invention suitably comprisebetween about 1 to about 50 nucleotides (nt). In examples of nonlimiting embodiments, siRNAs can comprise about 5 to about 40 nt, about5 to about 30 nt, about 10 to about 30 nt, about 15 to about 25 nt, orabout 20-25 nucleotides.

Selection of appropriate oligonucleotides is facilitated by usingcomputer programs that automatically align nucleic acid sequences andindicate regions of identity or homology. Such programs are used tocompare nucleic acid sequences obtained, for example, by searchingdatabases such as GenBank or by sequencing PCR products. Comparison ofnucleic acid sequences from a range of species allows the selection ofnucleic acid sequences that display an appropriate degree of identitybetween species. In the case of genes that have not been sequenced,Southern blots are performed to allow a determination of the degree ofidentity between genes in target species and other species. Byperforming Southern blots at varying degrees of stringency, as is wellknown in the art, it is possible to obtain an approximate measure ofidentity. These procedures allow the selection of oligonucleotides thatexhibit a high degree of complementarity to target nucleic acidsequences in a subject to be controlled and a lower degree ofcomplementarity to corresponding nucleic acid sequences in otherspecies. One skilled in the art will realize that there is considerablelatitude in selecting appropriate regions of genes for use in thepresent invention.

By “enzymatic RNA” is meant an RNA molecule with enzymatic activity(Cech, (1988) J. American. Med. Assoc. 260, 3030-3035). Enzymaticnucleic acids (ribozymes) act by first binding to a target RNA. Suchbinding occurs through the target binding portion of an enzymaticnucleic acid which is held in close proximity to an enzymatic portion ofthe molecule that acts to cleave the target RNA. Thus, the enzymaticnucleic acid first recognizes and then binds a target RNA through basepairing, and once bound to the correct site, acts enzymatically to cutthe target RNA.

By “decoy RNA” is meant an RNA molecule that mimics the natural bindingdomain for a ligand. The decoy RNA therefore competes with naturalbinding target for the binding of a specific ligand. For example, it hasbeen shown that over-expression of HIV trans-activation response (TAR)RNA can act as a “decoy” and efficiently binds HIV tat protein, therebypreventing it from binding to TAR sequences encoded in the HIV RNA(Sullenger et al. (1990) Cell, 63, 601-608). This is meant to be aspecific example. Those in the art will recognize that this is but oneexample, and other embodiments can be readily generated using techniquesgenerally known in the art.

As used herein, the term “monomers” typically indicates monomers linkedby phosphodiester bonds or analogs thereof to form oligonucleotidesranging in size from a few monomeric units, e.g., from about 3-4, toabout several hundreds of monomeric units. Analogs of phosphodiesterlinkages include: phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate,methylphosphornates, phosphoroselenoate, phosphoramidate, and the like,as more fully described below.

The term “nucleotide” covers naturally occurring nucleotides as well asnonnaturally occurring nucleotides. It should be clear to the personskilled in the art that various nucleotides which previously have beenconsidered “non-naturally occurring” have subsequently been found innature. Thus, “nucleotides” includes not only the known purine andpyrimidine heterocycles-containing molecules, but also heterocyclicanalogues and tautomers thereof. Illustrative examples of other types ofnucleotides are molecules containing adenine, guanine, thymine,cytosine, uracil, purine, xanthine, diaminopurine,8-oxo-N6-methyladenine, 7-deazaxanthine, 7-deazaguanine,N4,N4-ethanocytosin, N6,N6-ethano-2,6-diaminopurine, 5-methylcytosine,5-(C3-C6)-alkynylcytosine, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil,pseudoisocytosine, 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-triazolopyridin, isocytosine,isoguanin, inosine and the “non-naturally occurring” nucleotidesdescribed in Benner et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,432,272. The term“nucleotide” is intended to cover every and all of these examples aswell as analogues and tautomers thereof. Especially interestingnucleotides are those containing adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine,and uracil, which are considered as the naturally occurring nucleotidesin relation to therapeutic and diagnostic application in humans.Nucleotides include the natural 2′-deoxy and 2′-hydroxyl sugars, e.g.,as described in Kornberg and Baker, DNA Replication, 2nd Ed. (Freeman,San Francisco, 1992) as well as their analogs.

“Analogs” in reference to nucleotides includes synthetic nucleotideshaving modified base moieties and/or modified sugar moieties (see e.g.,described generally by Scheit, Nucleotide Analogs, John Wiley, New York,1980; Freier & Altmann, (1997) Nucl. Acid. Res., 25(22), 4429-4443,Toulmé, J. J., (2001) Nature Biotechnology 19:17-18; Manoharan M.,(1999) Biochemica et Biophysica Acta 1489:117-139; Freier S. M., (1997)Nucleic Acid Research, 25:4429-4443, Uhlman, E., (2000) Drug Discovery &Development, 3: 203-213, Herdewin P., (2000) Antisense & Nucleic AcidDrug Dev., 10:297-310); 2′-O,3′-C-linked 3.2.0]bicycloarabinonucleosides(see e.g. N. K. Christiensen., et al, (1998) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 120:5458-5463; Prakash T P, Bhat B. (2007) Curr Top Med Chem. 7(7):641-9;Cho E J, et al. (2009) Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry, 2,241-264). Such analogs include synthetic nucleotides designed to enhancebinding properties, e.g., duplex or triplex stability, specificity, orthe like.

As used herein, “hybridization” means the pairing of substantiallycomplementary strands of oligomeric compounds. One mechanism of pairinginvolves hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoögsteen orreversed Hoögsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside ornucleotide bases (nucleotides) of the strands of oligomeric compounds.For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleotides whichpair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. Hybridization can occurunder varying circumstances.

An antisense compound is “specifically hybridizable” when binding of thecompound to the target nucleic acid interferes with the normal functionof the target nucleic acid to cause a modulation of function and/oractivity, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoidnon-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target nucleicacid sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired,i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays ortherapeutic treatment, and under conditions in which assays areperformed in the case of in vitro assays.

As used herein, the phrase “stringent hybridization conditions” or“stringent conditions” refers to conditions under which a compound ofthe invention will hybridize to its target sequence, but to a minimalnumber of other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependentand will be different in different circumstances and in the context ofthis invention, “stringent conditions” under which oligomeric compoundshybridize to a target sequence are determined by the nature andcomposition of the oligomeric compounds and the assays in which they arebeing investigated. In general, stringent hybridization conditionscomprise low concentrations (<0.15M) of salts with inorganic cationssuch as Na++ or K++ (i.e., low ionic strength), temperature higher than20° C.-25° C. below the Tm of the oligomeric compound:target sequencecomplex, and the presence of denaturants such as formamide,dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, or the detergent sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). For example, the hybridization rate decreases 1.1% foreach 1% formamide. An example of a high stringency hybridizationcondition is 0.1× sodium chloride-sodium citrate buffer (SSC)/0.1% (w/v)SDS at 60° C. for 30 minutes.

“Complementary,” as used herein, refers to the capacity for precisepairing between two nucleotides on one or two oligomeric strands. Forexample, if a nucleobase at a certain position of an antisense compoundis capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleobase at a certain positionof a target nucleic acid, said target nucleic acid being a DNA, RNA, oroligonucleotide molecule, then the position of hydrogen bonding betweenthe oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid is considered to be acomplementary position. The oligomeric compound and the further DNA,RNA, or oligonucleotide molecule are complementary to each other when asufficient number of complementary positions in each molecule areoccupied by nucleotides which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus,“specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are usedto indicate a sufficient degree of precise pairing or complementarityover a sufficient number of nucleotides such that stable and specificbinding occurs between the oligomeric compound and a target nucleicacid.

It is understood in the art that the sequence of an oligomeric compoundneed not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to bespecifically hybridizable. Moreover, an oligonucleotide may hybridizeover one or more segments such that intervening or adjacent segments arenot involved in the hybridization event (e.g., a loop structure,mismatch or hairpin structure). The oligomeric compounds of the presentinvention comprise at least about 70%, or at least about 75%, or atleast about 80%, or at least about 85%, or at least about 90%, or atleast about 95%, or at least about 99% sequence complementarity to atarget region within the target nucleic acid sequence to which they aretargeted. For example, an antisense compound in which 18 of 20nucleotides of the antisense compound are complementary to a targetregion, and would therefore specifically hybridize, would represent 90percent complementarity. In this example, the remaining noncomplementarynucleotides may be clustered or interspersed with complementarynucleotides and need not be contiguous to each other or to complementarynucleotides. As such, an antisense compound which is 18 nucleotides inlength having 4 (four) noncomplementary nucleotides which are flanked bytwo regions of complete complementarity with the target nucleic acidwould have 77.8% overall complementarity with the target nucleic acidand would thus fall within the scope of the present invention. Percentcomplementarity of an antisense compound with a region of a targetnucleic acid can be determined routinely using BLAST programs (basiclocal alignment search tools) and PowerBLAST programs known in the art(Altschul et al., (1990) J. Mol. Biol., 215, 403-410; Zhang and Madden,(1997) Genome Res., 7, 649-656). Percent homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, can be determined by, for example, the Gap program(Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, GeneticsComputer Group, University Research Park, Madison Wis.), using defaultsettings, which uses the algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Adv. Appl.Math.,(1981) 2, 482-489).

As used herein, the term “Thermal Melting Point (Tm)” refers to thetemperature, under defined ionic strength, pH, and nucleic acidconcentration, at which 50% of the oligonucleotides complementary to thetarget sequence hybridize to the target sequence at equilibrium.Typically, stringent conditions will be those in which the saltconcentration is at least about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na ion concentration (orother salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30°C. for short oligonucleotides (e.g., 10 to 50 nucleotide). Stringentconditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizingagents such as formamide.

As used herein, “modulation” means either an increase (stimulation) or adecrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene.

The term “variant,” when used in the context of a polynucleotidesequence, may encompass a polynucleotide sequence related to a wild typegene. This definition may also include, for example, “allelic,”“splice,” “species,” or “polymorphic” variants. A splice variant mayhave significant identity to a reference molecule, but will generallyhave a greater or lesser number of polynucleotides due to alternatesplicing of exons during mRNA processing. The corresponding polypeptidemay possess additional functional domains or an absence of domains.Species variants are polynucleotide sequences that vary from one speciesto another. Of particular utility in the invention are variants of wildtype gene products. Variants may result from at least one mutation inthe nucleic acid sequence and may result in altered mRNAs or inpolypeptides whose structure or function may or may not be altered. Anygiven natural or recombinant gene may have none, one, or many allelicforms. Common mutational changes that give rise to variants aregenerally ascribed to natural deletions, additions, or substitutions ofnucleotides. Each of these types of changes may occur alone, or incombination with the others, one or more times in a given sequence.

The resulting polypeptides generally will have significant amino acididentity relative to each other. A polymorphic variant is a variation inthe polynucleotide sequence of a particular gene between individuals ofa given species. Polymorphic variants also may encompass “singlenucleotide polymorphisms” (SNPs,) or single base mutations in which thepolynucleotide sequence varies by one base. The presence of SNPs may beindicative of, for example, a certain population with a propensity for adisease state, that is susceptibility versus resistance.

Derivative polynucleotides include nucleic acids subjected to chemicalmodification, for example, replacement of hydrogen by an alkyl, acyl, oramino group. Derivatives, e.g., derivative oligonucleotides, maycomprise non-naturally-occurring portions, such as altered sugarmoieties or inter-sugar linkages. Exemplary among these arephosphorothioate and other sulfur containing species which are known inthe art. Derivative nucleic acids may also contain labels, includingradionucleotides, enzymes, fluorescent agents, chemiluminescent agents,chromogenic agents, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, magneticparticles, and the like.

A “derivative” polypeptide or peptide is one that is modified, forexample, by glycosylation, pegylation, phosphorylation, sulfation,reduction/alkylation, acylation, chemical coupling, or mild formalintreatment. A derivative may also be modified to contain a detectablelabel, either directly or indirectly, including, but not limited to, aradioisotope, fluorescent, and enzyme label.

As used herein, the term “animal” or “patient” is meant to include, forexample, humans, sheep, elks, deer, mule deer, minks, mammals, monkeys,horses, cattle, pigs, goats, dogs, cats, rats, mice, birds, chicken,reptiles; fish, insects and arachnids.

“Mammal” covers warm blooded mammals that are typically under medicalcare (e.g., humans and domesticated animals). Examples include feline,canine, equine, bovine, and human, as well as just human.

“Treating” or “treatment” covers the treatment of a disease-state in amammal, and includes: (a) preventing the disease-state from occurring ina mammal, in particular, when such mammal is predisposed to thedisease-state but has not yet been diagnosed as having it; (b)inhibiting the disease-state, e.g., arresting it development; and/or (c)relieving the disease-state, e.g., causing regression of the diseasestate until a desired endpoint is reached. Treating also includes theamelioration of a symptom of a disease (e.g., lessen the pain ordiscomfort), wherein such amelioration may or may not be directlyaffecting the disease (e.g., cause, transmission, expression, etc.).

Hematological disease or disorders include diseases, disorders, orconditions associated with aberrant hematological content or function.Examples of hematological disorders include disorders resulting frombone marrow irradiation or chemotherapy treatments for cancer, disorderssuch as pernicious anemia, hemorrhagic anemia, hemolytic anemia,aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia, sideroblastic anemia, anemiaassociated with chronic infections such as malaria, trypanosomiasis,HIV, hepatitis virus or other viruses, myelophthisic anemias caused bymarrow deficiencies, renal failure resulting from anemia, anemia,polycethemia, infectious mononucleosis (IM), acute non-lymphocyticleukemia (ANLL), acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), acute promyelocyticleukemia (APL), acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMMoL), polycethemiavera, lymphoma, acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocyticleukemia, Wilm's tumor, Ewing's sarcoma, retinoblastoma, hemophilia,disorders associated with an increased risk of thrombosis, herpes,thalessemia, antibody-mediated disorders such as transfusion reactionsand erythroblastosis, mechanical trauma to red blood cells such asmicro-angiopathic hemolytic anemias, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpuraand disseminated intravascular coagulation, infections by parasites suchas plasmodium, chemical injuries from, e.g., lead poisoning, andhypersplenism.

Polynucleotide and Oligonucleotide Compositions and Molecules

Targets: In one embodiment, the targets comprise nucleic acid sequencesof Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG), including without limitation sense and/orantisense noncoding and/or coding sequences associated with HBF/HBG.

The gamma globin genes (HBG1 and HBG2) are normally expressed in thefetal liver, spleen and bone, marrow. Two gamma chains together with twoalpha chains constitute fetal hemoglobin (HbF) which is normallyreplaced by adult hemoglobin (HbA) at birth. In some beta-thalassemiasand related conditions, gamma chain production continues into adulthood.The two types of gamma chains differ at residue 136 where glycine isfound in the G-gamma product (HBG2) and alanine is found in the A-gammaproduct (HBG1). The former is predominant at birth. The order of thegenes in the beta-globin cluster is:5′-epsilon-gamma-G-gamma-A-delta-beta-3′.

Fetal hemoglobin (HBF) is the main oxygen transport protein in the fetusduring the last seven months of development in the uterus and in thenewborn until roughly 6 months old. Functionally, fetal hemoglobindiffers most from adult hemoglobin in that it is able to bind oxygenwith greater affinity than the adult form, giving the developing fetusbetter access to oxygen from the mother's bloodstream. In newborns,fetal hemoglobin is nearly completely replaced by adult hemoglobin byapproximately the twelfth week of postnatal life. In adults, fetalhemoglobin production can be reactivated by the compositions describedherein, which is useful in the treatment of such diseases as sickle-celldisease.

When fetal hemoglobin production is switched off after birth, normalchildren begin producing adult hemoglobin (HbA) but children withsickle-cell disease instead begin producing a defective form ofhemoglobin called hemoglobin S. This variety of hemoglobin aggregates,forming filaments and so causes red blood cells to change their shapefrom round to sickleshaped, which have a greater tendency to stack ontop of one another and crowd blood vessels. These invariably lead toso-called painful vaso-occlusive episodes, which are a hallmark of thedisease. If fetal hemoglobin remains the predominant form of hemoglobinafter birth, however, the number of painful episodes decreases inpatients with sickle cell anemia. Hydroxyurea, used also as ananti-cancer drug, is a viable treatment for sickle cell anemia, as itpromotes the production of fetal hemoglobin while inhibiting sicklingdue to hemoglobin S polymerization.

Diseases or disorders associated with abnormal globin expression and/orfunction include, for example, anemias, such as for example sickle cellanemia, thalassemia, and the like. Sickle cell disease is a systemicdisorder that is caused by a mutation (Glu6Val) in the gene thatencodes˜globin. The sickle hemoglobin molecule (HbS) is a tetramer oftwo a-globin chains and two sickle˜globin chains, and has the tendencyto polymerize when deoxygenated. HbS facilitates abnormal interactionsbetween the sickle erythrocyte and leukocytes and endothelial cells,which trigger a complex pathobiology. This multifaceted pathophysiologyprovides the opportunity to interrupt the disease at multiple sites,including polymerization of HbS, erythrocyte density and cell-cellinteractions. For example, it is possible to induce higherconcentrations of fetal hemoglobin, which disrupts thepathology-initiating step of HbS polymerization. In some embodiments,treatment of a patient comprises administration of one or more antisenseoligonucleotides to a patient. The treatment can be combined with one ormore therapies. For example, improving the hydration of sickleerythrocytes and agents to counteract the endothelial, inflammatory andoxidative abnormalities of sickle cell disease.

In preferred embodiments, antisense oligonucleotides are used to preventor treat diseases or disorders associated with abnormal globin geneexpression or function. Exemplary Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) mediated diseasesand disorders which can be treated with cell/tissues regenerated fromstem cells obtained using the antisense compounds comprise: ahematological disease or disorder, a red blood cell disease or disorder,a hematopoietic blood disease or disorder, anemia (e.g., Fanconi'sanemia), thalassemia (e.g., beta-thalassemia etc.), sickle cell disease,leukemia, cellular dyscrasia, dyserythropoiesis, anisocytosis andpoikilocytosis.

In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides are specific forpolynucleotides of HBF/HBG, which includes, without limitation noncodingregions. The HBF/HBG targets comprise variants of HBF/HBG; mutants ofHBF/HBG, including SNPs; noncoding sequences of HBF/HBG; alleles,fragments and the like. Preferably the oligonucleotide is an antisenseRNA molecule.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the target nucleic acidmolecule is not limited to HBF/HBG polynucleotides alone but extends toany of the isoforms, receptors, homologs, non-coding regions and thelike of HBF/HBG.

In another preferred embodiment, an oligonucleotide targets a naturalantisense sequence (natural antisense to the coding and non-codingregions) of HBF/HBG targets, including, without limitation, variants,alleles, homologs, mutants, derivatives, fragments and complementarysequences thereto. Preferably the oligonucleotide is an antisense RNA orDNA molecule.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligomeric compounds of the presentinvention also include variants in which a different base is present atone or more of the nucleotide positions in the compound. For example, ifthe first nucleotide is an adenine, variants may be produced whichcontain thymidine, guanosine, cytidine or other natural or unnaturalnucleotides at this position. This may be done at any of the positionsof the antisense compound. These compounds are then tested using themethods described herein to determine their ability to inhibitexpression of a target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity,between the antisense compound and target is from about 50% to about60%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, is from about 60% to about 70%. In some embodiments,homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is from about 70% toabout 80%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, is from about 80% to about 90%. In some embodiments,homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is about 90%, about 92%,about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99% orabout 100%.

An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of thecompound to the target nucleic acid interferes with the normal functionof the target nucleic acid to cause a loss of activity, and there is asufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding ofthe antisense compound to non-target nucleic acid sequences underconditions in which specific binding is desired. Such conditionsinclude, i.e., physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays ortherapeutic treatment, and conditions in which assays are performed inthe case of in vitro assays.

An antisense compound, whether DNA, RNA, chimeric, substituted etc, isspecifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNAor RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA orRNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree ofcomplementarily to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compoundto non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding isdesired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivoassays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vitro assays,under conditions in which the assays are performed.

In another preferred embodiment, targeting of HBF/HBG including withoutlimitation, antisense sequences which are identified and expanded, usingfor example, PCR, hybridization etc., one or more of the sequences setforth as SEQ ID NO: 3, and the like, modulate the expression or functionof HBF/HBG. In one embodiment, expression or function is up-regulated ascompared to a control. In another preferred embodiment, expression orfunction is down-regulated as compared to a control.

In another preferred embodiment, oligonucleotides comprise nucleic acidsequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13 including antisense sequenceswhich are identified and expanded, using for example, PCR, hybridizationetc. These oligonucleotides can comprise one or more modifiednucleotides, shorter or longer fragments, modified bonds and the like.Examples of modified bonds or internucleotide linkages comprisephosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate or the like. In another preferredembodiment, the nucleotides comprise a phosphorus derivative. Thephosphorus derivative (or modified phosphate group) which may beattached to the sugar or sugar analog moiety in the modifiedoligonucleotides of the present invention may be a monophosphate,diphosphate, triphosphate, alkylphosphate, alkanephosphate,phosphorothioate and the like. The preparation of the above-notedphosphate analogs, and their incorporation into nucleotides, modifiednucleotides and oligonucleotides, per se, is also known and need not bedescribed here.

The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also harnessed by thoseof skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense oligonucleotideshave been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of diseasestates in animals and man. Antisense oligonucleotides have been safelyand effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials arepresently underway. It is thus established that oligonucleotides can beuseful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful intreatment regimes for treatment of cells, tissues and animals,especially humans.

In embodiments of the present invention oligomeric antisense compounds,particularly oligonucleotides, bind to target nucleic acid molecules andmodulate the expression and/or function of molecules encoded by a targetgene. The functions of DNA to be interfered comprise, for example,replication and transcription. The functions of RNA to be interferedcomprise all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of theRNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from theRNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, andcatalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA.The functions may be up-regulated or inhibited depending on thefunctions desired.

The antisense compounds, include, antisense oligomeric compounds,antisense oligonucleotides, external guide sequence (EGS)oligonucleotides, alternate splicers, primers, probes, and otheroligomeric compounds that hybridize to at least a portion of the targetnucleic acid. As such, these compounds may be introduced in the form ofsingle-stranded, double-stranded, partially single-stranded, or circularoligomeric compounds.

Targeting an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid molecule,in the context of this invention, can be a multistep process. Theprocess usually begins with the identification of a target nucleic acidwhose function is to be modulated. This target nucleic acid may be, forexample, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whoseexpression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, ora nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the presentinvention, the target nucleic acid encodes Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG).

The targeting process usually also includes determination of at leastone target region, segment, or site within the target nucleic acid forthe antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g.,modulation of expression, will result. Within the context of the presentinvention, the term “region” is defined as a portion of the targetnucleic acid having at least one identifiable structure, function, orcharacteristic. Within regions of target nucleic acids are segments.“Segments” are defined as smaller or sub-portions of regions within atarget nucleic acid. “Sites,” as used in the present invention, aredefined as positions within a target nucleic acid.

In a preferred embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind to thenatural antisense sequences of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) and modulate theexpression and/or function of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) (SEQ ID NO: 1).Examples of antisense sequences include SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 13.

In another preferred embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind toone or more segments of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides andmodulate the expression and/or function of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG). Thesegments comprise at least five consecutive nucleotides of theHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) sense or antisense polynucleotides.

In another preferred embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides arespecific for natural antisense sequences of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) whereinbinding of the oligonucleotides to the natural antisense sequences ofHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) modulate expression and/or function of Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG).

In another preferred embodiment, oligonucleotide compounds comprisesequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13, antisense sequences whichare identified and expanded, using for example, PCR, hybridization etcThese oligonucleotides can comprise one or more modified nucleotides,shorter or longer fragments, modified bonds and the like. Examples ofmodified bonds or internucleotide linkages comprise phosphorothioate,phosphorodithioate or the like. In another preferred embodiment, thenucleotides comprise a phosphorus derivative. The phosphorus derivative(or modified phosphate group) which may be attached to the sugar orsugar analog moiety in the modified oligonucleotides of the presentinvention may be a monophosphate, diphosphate, triphosphate,alkylphosphate, alkanephosphate, phosphorothioate and the like. Thepreparation of the above-noted phosphate analogs, and theirincorporation into nucleotides, modified nucleotides andoligonucleotides, per se, is also known and need not be described here.

Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon istypically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in thecorresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is alsoreferred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG startcodon”. A minority of genes has a translation initiation codon havingthe RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG; and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′-CUGhave been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the terms “translationinitiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences,even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typicallymethionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes).Eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative startcodons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translationinitiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particularset of conditions. In the context of the invention, “start codon” and“translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that areused in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA transcribed from a geneencoding Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG), regardless of the sequence(s) of suchcodons. A translation termination codon (or “stop codon”) of a gene mayhave one of three sequences, i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAG and 5′-UGA (thecorresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′-TAG and 5′-TGA,respectively).

The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region”refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stopcodon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to aportion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from atranslation termination codon. Consequently, the “start codon region”(or “translation initiation codon region”) and the “stop codon region”(or “translation termination codon region”) are all regions that may betargeted effectively with the antisense compounds of the presentinvention.

The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which is known in theart to refer to the region between the translation initiation codon andthe translation termination codon, is also a region which may betargeted effectively. Within the context of the present invention, atargeted region is the intragenic region encompassing the translationinitiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of agene.

Another target region includes the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), knownin the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction fromthe translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides betweenthe 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA (orcorresponding nucleotides on the gene). Still another target regionincludes the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), known in the art to referto the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translationtermination codon, and thus including nucleotides between thetranslation termination codon and 3′ end of an mRNA (or correspondingnucleotides on the gene). The 5′ cap site of an mRNA comprises anN7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of themRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA isconsidered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap site. Another target region for thisinvention is the 5′ cap region.

Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, manycontain one or more regions, known as “introns,” which are excised froma transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and thereforetranslated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together toform a continuous mRNA sequence. In one embodiment, targeting splicesites, i.e., intron-exon junctions or exon-intron junctions, isparticularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicatedin disease, or where an overproduction of a particular splice product isimplicated in disease. An aberrant fusion junction due to rearrangementor deletion is another embodiment of a target site. mRNA transcriptsproduced via the process of splicing of two (or more) mRNAs fromdifferent gene sources are known as “fusion transcripts”. Introns can beeffectively targeted using antisense compounds targeted to, for example,DNA or pre-mRNA.

In another preferred embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind tocoding and/or non-coding regions of a target polynucleotide and modulatethe expression and/or function of the target molecule.

In another preferred embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind tonatural antisense polynucleotides and modulate the expression and/orfunction of the target molecule.

In another preferred embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides bind tosense polynucleotides and modulate the expression and/or function of thetarget molecule.

Alternative RNA transcripts can be produced from the same genomic regionof DNA. These alternative transcripts are generally known as “variants”.More specifically, “pre-mRNA variants” are transcripts produced from thesame genomic DNA that differ from other transcripts produced from thesame genomic DNA in either their start or stop position and contain bothintronic and exonic sequence.

Upon excision of one or more exon or intron regions, or portions thereofduring splicing, pre-mRNA variants produce smaller “mRNA variants”.Consequently, mRNA variants are processed pre-mRNA variants and eachunique pre-mRNA variant must always produce a unique mRNA variant as aresult of splicing. These mRNA variants are also known as “alternativesplice variants”. If no splicing of the pre-mRNA variant occurs then thepre-mRNA variant is identical to the mRNA variant.

Variants can be produced through the use of alternative signals to startor stop transcription. Pre-mRNAs and mRNAs can possess more than onestart codon or stop codon. Variants that originate from a pre-mRNA ormRNA that use alternative start codons are known as “alternative startvariants” of that pre-mRNA or mRNA. Those transcripts that use analternative stop codon are known as “alternative stop variants” of thatpre-mRNA or mRNA. One specific type of alternative stop variant is the“polyA variant” in which the multiple transcripts produced result fromthe alternative selection of one of the “polyA stop signals” by thetranscription machinery, thereby producing transcripts that terminate atunique polyA sites. Within the context of the invention, the types ofvariants described herein are also embodiments of target nucleic acids.

The locations on the target nucleic acid to which the antisensecompounds hybridize are defined as at least a 5-nucleotide long portionof a target region to which an active antisense compound is targeted.

While the specific sequences of certain exemplary target segments areset forth herein, one of skill in the art will recognize that theseserve to illustrate and describe particular embodiments within the scopeof the present invention. Additional target segments are readilyidentifiable by one having ordinary skill in the art in view of thisdisclosure.

Target segments 5-100 nucleotides in length comprising a stretch of atleast five (5) consecutive nucleotides selected from within theillustrative preferred target segments are considered to be suitable fortargeting as well.

Target segments can include DNA or RNA sequences that comprise at leastthe 5 consecutive nucleotides from the 5′-terminus of one of theillustrative preferred target segments (the remaining nucleotides beinga consecutive stretch of the same DNA or RNA beginning immediatelyupstream of the 5′-terminus of the target segment and continuing untilthe DNA or RNA contains about 5 to about 100 nucleotides). Similarlypreferred target segments are represented by DNA or RNA sequences thatcomprise at least the 5 consecutive nucleotides from the 3′-terminus ofone of the illustrative preferred target segments (the remainingnucleotides being a consecutive stretch of the same DNA or RNA beginningimmediately downstream of the 3′-terminus of the target segment andcontinuing until the DNA or RNA contains about 5 to about 100nucleotides). One having skill in the art armed with the target segmentsillustrated herein will be able, without undue experimentation, toidentify further preferred target segments.

Once one or more target regions, segments or sites have been identified,antisense compounds are chosen which are sufficiently complementary tothe target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficientspecificity, to give the desired effect.

In embodiments of the invention the oligonucleotides bind to anantisense strand of a particular target. The oligonucleotides are atleast 5 nucleotides in length and can be synthesized so eacholigonucleotide targets overlapping sequences such that oligonucleotidesare synthesized to cover the entire length of the target polynucleotide.The targets also include coding as well as non coding regions.

In one embodiment, it is preferred to target specific nucleic acids byantisense oligonucleotides. Targeting an antisense compound to aparticular nucleic acid, is a multistep process. The process usuallybegins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose functionis to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNAtranscribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with aparticular disorder or disease state, or a non coding polynucleotidesuch as for example, non coding RNA (ncRNA).

RNAs can be classified into (1) messenger RNAs (mRNAs), which aretranslated into proteins, and (2) non-protein-coding RNAs (ncRNAs).ncRNAs comprise microRNAs, antisense transcripts and otherTranscriptional Units (TU) containing a high density of stop codons andlacking any extensive “Open Reading Frame”. Many ncRNAs appear to startfrom initiation sites in 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) ofprotein-coding loci. ncRNAs are often rare and at least half of thencRNAs that have been sequenced by the FANTOM consortium seem not to bepolyadenylated. Most researchers have for obvious reasons focused onpolyadenylated mRNAs that are processed and exported to the cytoplasm.Recently, it was shown that the set of non-polyadenylated nuclear RNAsmay be very large, and that many such transcripts arise from so-calledintergenic regions (Cheng, J. et al. (2005) Science 308 (5725),1149-1154; Kapranov, P. et al. (2005). Genome Res 15 (7), 987-997). Themechanism by which ncRNAs may regulate gene expression is by basepairing with target transcripts. The RNAs that function by base pairingcan be grouped into (1) cis encoded RNAs that are encoded at the samegenetic location, but on the opposite strand to the RNAs they act uponand therefore display perfect complementarity to their target, and (2)trans-encoded RNAs that are encoded at a chromosomal location distinctfrom the RNAs they act upon and generally do not exhibit perfectbase-pairing potential with their targets.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, perturbation of an antisensepolynucleotide by the antisense oligonucleotides described herein canalter the expression of the corresponding sense messenger RNAs. However,this regulation can either be discordant (antisense knockdown results inmessenger RNA elevation) or concordant (antisense knockdown results inconcomitant messenger RNA reduction). In these cases, antisenseoligonucleotides can be targeted to overlapping or non-overlapping partsof the antisense transcript resulting in its knockdown or sequestration.Coding as well as non-coding antisense can be targeted in an identicalmanner and that either category is capable of regulating thecorresponding sense transcripts—either in a concordant or disconcordantmanner. The strategies that are employed in identifying newoligonucleotides for use against a target can be based on the knockdownof antisense RNA transcripts by antisense oligonucleotides or any othermeans of modulating the desired target.

Strategy 1: In the case of discordant regulation, knocking down theantisense transcript elevates the expression of the conventional (sense)gene. Should that latter gene encode for a known or putative drugtarget, then knockdown of its antisense counterpart could conceivablymimic the action of a receptor agonist or an enzyme stimulant.

Strategy 2: In the case of concordant regulation, one couldconcomitantly knock down both antisense and sense transcripts andthereby achieve synergistic reduction of the conventional (sense) geneexpression. If, for example, an antisense oligonucleotide is used toachieve knockdown, then this strategy can be used to apply one antisenseoligonucleotide targeted to the sense transcript and another antisenseoligonucleotide to the corresponding antisense transcript, or a singleenergetically symmetric antisense oligonucleotide that simultaneouslytargets overlapping sense and antisense transcripts.

According to the present invention, antisense compounds includeantisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS)oligonucleotides, siRNA compounds, single- or double-stranded RNAinterference (RNAi) compounds such as siRNA compounds, and otheroligomeric compounds which hybridize to at least a portion of the targetnucleic acid and modulate its function. As such, they may be DNA, RNA,DNA-like, RNA-like, or mixtures thereof, or may be mimetics of one ormore of these. These compounds may be single-stranded, doublestranded,circular or hairpin oligomeric compounds and may contain structuralelements such as internal or terminal bulges, mismatches or loops.Antisense compounds are routinely prepared linearly but can be joined orotherwise prepared to be circular and/or branched. Antisense compoundscan include constructs such as, for example, two strands hybridized toform a wholly or partially double-stranded compound or a single strandwith sufficient self-complementarity to allow for hybridization andformation of a fully or partially double-stranded compound. The twostrands can be linked internally leaving free 3′ or 5′ termini or can belinked to form a continuous hairpin structure or loop. The hairpinstructure may contain an overhang on either the 5′ or 3′ terminusproducing an extension of single stranded character. The double strandedcompounds optionally can include overhangs on the ends. Furthermodifications can include conjugate groups attached to one of thetermini, selected nucleotide positions, sugar positions or to one of theinternucleoside linkages. Alternatively, the two strands can be linkedvia a non-nucleic acid moiety or linker group. When formed from only onestrand, dsRNA can take the form of a self-complementary hairpin-typemolecule that doubles back on itself to form a duplex. Thus, the dsRNAscan be fully or partially double stranded. Specific modulation of geneexpression can be achieved by stable expression of dsRNA hairpins intransgenic cell lines, however, in some embodiments, the gene expressionor function is up regulated. When formed from two strands, or a singlestrand that takes the form of a self-complementary hairpin-type moleculedoubled back on itself to form a duplex, the two strands (orduplex-forming regions of a single strand) are complementary RNA strandsthat base pair in Watson-Crick fashion.

Once introduced to a system, the compounds of the invention may elicitthe action of one or more enzymes or structural proteins to effectcleavage or other modification of the target nucleic acid or may workvia occupancy-based mechanisms. In general, nucleic acids (includingoligonucleotides) may be described as “DNA-like” (i.e., generally havingone or more 2′-deoxy sugars and, generally, T rather than U bases) or“RNA-like” (i.e., generally having one or more 2′-hydroxyl or2′-modified sugars and, generally U rather than T bases). Nucleic acidhelices can adopt more than one type of structure, most commonly the A-and B-forms. It is believed that, in general, oligonucleotides whichhave B-form-like structure are “DNA-like” and those which haveA-formlike structure are “RNA-like.” In some (chimeric) embodiments, anantisense compound may contain both A- and B-form regions.

In another preferred embodiment, the desired oligonucleotides orantisense compounds, comprise at least one of: antisense RNA, antisenseDNA, chimeric antisense oligonucleotides, antisense oligonucleotidescomprising modified linkages, interference RNA (RNAi), short interferingRNA (siRNA); a micro, interfering RNA (miRNA); a small, temporal RNA(stRNA); or a short, hairpin RNA (shRNA); small RNA-induced geneactivation (RNAa); small activating RNAs (saRNAs), or combinationsthereof.

dsRNA can also activate gene expression, a mechanism that has beentermed “small RNA-induced gene activation” or RNAa. dsRNAs targetinggene promoters induce potent transcriptional activation of associatedgenes. RNAa was demonstrated in human cells using synthetic dsRNAs,termed “small activating RNAs” (saRNAs). It is currently not knownwhether RNAa is conserved in other organisms.

Small double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), such as small interfering RNA (siRNA)and microRNA (miRNA), have been found to be the trigger of anevolutionary conserved mechanism known as RNA interference (RNAi). RNAiinvariably leads to gene silencing via remodeling chromatin to therebysuppress transcription, degrading complementary mRNA, or blockingprotein translation. However, in instances described in detail in theexamples section which follows, oligonucleotides are shown to increasethe expression and/or function of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG)polynucleotides and encoded products thereof. dsRNAs may also act assmall activating RNAs (saRNA). Without wishing to be bound by theory, bytargeting sequences in gene promoters, saRNAs would induce target geneexpression in a phenomenon referred to as dsRNA-induced transcriptionalactivation (RNAa).

In a further embodiment, the “preferred target segments” identifiedherein may be employed in a screen for additional compounds thatmodulate the expression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides.“Modulators” are those compounds that decrease or increase theexpression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) andwhich comprise at least a 5-nucleotide portion that is complementary toa preferred target segment. The screening method comprises the steps ofcontacting a preferred target segment of a nucleic acid moleculeencoding sense or natural antisense polynucleotides of Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) with one or more candidate modulators, and selecting for oneor more candidate modulators which decrease or increase the expressionof a nucleic acid molecule encoding Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG)polynucleotides, e.g. SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13. Once it is shown that thecandidate modulator or modulators are capable of modulating (e.g. eitherdecreasing or increasing) the expression of a nucleic acid moleculeencoding Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides, the modulator may then beemployed in further investigative studies of the function of Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) polynucleotides, or for use as a research, diagnostic, ortherapeutic agent in accordance with the present invention.

Targeting the natural antisense sequence preferably modulates thefunction of the target gene. For example, the HBF/HBG gene (e.g.accession number NM_(—)000559, FIG. 2). In a preferred embodiment, thetarget is an antisense polynucleotide of the HBF/HBG gene. In apreferred embodiment, an antisense oligonucleotide targets sense and/ornatural antisense sequences of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides(e.g. accession number NM_(—)000559, FIG. 2), variants, alleles,isoforms, homologs, mutants, derivatives, fragments and complementarysequences thereto. Preferably the oligonucleotide is an antisensemolecule and the targets include coding and noncoding regions ofantisense and/or sense HBF/HBG polynucleotides.

The preferred target segments of the present invention may be also becombined with their respective complementary antisense compounds of thepresent invention to form stabilized double-stranded (duplexed)oligonucleotides.

Such double stranded oligonucleotide moieties have been shown in the artto modulate target expression and regulate translation as well as RNAprocessing via an antisense mechanism. Moreover, the double-strandedmoieties may be subject to chemical modifications (Fire et al., (1998)Nature, 391, 806-811; Timmons and Fire, (1998) Nature, 395, 854; Timmonset al., (2001) Gene, 263, 103-112; Tabara et al., (1998) Science, 282,430-431; Montgomery et al., (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 95,15502-15507; Tuschl et al., (1999) Genes Dev., 13, 3191-3197; Elbashiret al., (2001) Nature, 411, 494-498; Elbashir et al., (2001) Genes Dev.15, 188-200). For example, such double-stranded moieties have been shownto inhibit the target by the classical hybridization of antisense strandof the duplex to the target, thereby triggering enzymatic degradation ofthe target (Tijsterman et al., (2002) Science, 295, 694-697).

In a preferred embodiment, an antisense oligonucleotide targetsHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides (e.g. accession numberNM_(—)000559), variants, alleles, isoforms, homologs, mutants,derivatives, fragments and complementary sequences thereto. Preferablythe oligonucleotide is an antisense molecule.

In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the target nucleic acidmolecule is not limited to Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) alone but extends to anyof the isoforms, receptors, homologs and the like of Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) molecules.

In another preferred embodiment, an oligonucleotide targets a naturalantisense sequence of HBF/HBG polynucleotides, for example,polynucleotides set forth as SEQ ID NO: 3, and any variants, alleles,homologs, mutants, derivatives, fragments and complementary sequencesthereto. Examples of antisense oligonucleotides are set forth as SEQ IDNOS: 4 to 13.

In one embodiment, the oligonucleotides are complementary to or bind tonucleic acid sequences of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) antisense, includingwithout limitation noncoding sense and/or antisense sequences associatedwith Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides and modulate expression and/orfunction of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) molecules.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides are complementaryto or bind to nucleic acid sequences of HBF/HBG natural antisense, setforth as SEQ ID NO: 3 and modulate expression and/or function of HBF/HBGmolecules.

In a preferred embodiment, oligonucleotides comprise sequences of atleast 5 consecutive nucleotides of SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13 and modulateexpression and/or function of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) molecules.

The polynucleotide targets comprise HBF/HBG, including family membersthereof, variants of HBF/HBG; mutants of HBF/HBG, including SNPs;noncoding sequences of HBF/HBG; alleles of HBF/HBG; species variants,fragments and the like. Preferably the oligonucleotide is an antisensemolecule.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotide targetingHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides, comprise: antisense RNA,interference RNA (RNAi), short interfering RNA (siRNA); microinterfering RNA (miRNA); a small, temporal RNA (stRNA); or a short,hairpin RNA (shRNA); small RNA-induced gene activation (RNAa); or, smallactivating RNA (saRNA).

In another preferred embodiment, targeting of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG)polynucleotides, e.g. SEQ ID NO: 3, modulates the expression or functionof these targets. In one embodiment, expression or function isup-regulated as compared to a control. In another preferred embodiment,expression or function is down-regulated as compared to a control.

In another preferred embodiment, antisense compounds comprise sequencesset forth as SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13. These oligonucleotides can compriseone or more modified nucleotides, shorter or longer fragments, modifiedbonds and the like.

In another preferred embodiment, SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13 comprise one ormore LNA nucleotides.

Table 1 shows exemplary antisense oligonucleotides useful in the methodsof the invention. Antisense Sequence ID Sequence Name Sequence SEQ IDNO: 4 CUR-0408 rCrUrUrUrCrArArGrGrArUrArGrGrCrUrUrUrArUrUrCrUrGrCrArASEQ ID NO: 5 CUR-0410rCrCrUrGrGrCrArGrArArGrArUrGrGrUrGrArCrUrGrCrArGrUrGrG SEQ ID NO: 6CUR-0412 rGrUrCrArArGrGrCrArCrArUrGrGrCrArArGrArArGrGrUrGrCrUrG SEQ IDNO: 7 CUR-1223 G*T*C*C*T*C*C*A*G*A*T*A*C*C*A*C*T*G*A*G*C SEQ ID NO: 8CUR-1224 T*G*C*C*C*T*G*T*C*C*T*C*C*A*G*A*T*A*C*C SEQ ID NO: 9 CUR-1225G*G*T*G*C*T*G*A*C*T*T*C*C*T*T*G*G*G*A*G*A SEQ ID NO: 10 CUR-1226C*C*T*G*G*G*A*A*A*T*G*T*G*C*T*G*G*T*G*A*C SEQ ID NO: 11 CUR-1227C*C*T*G*G*G*A*A*A*T*G*T*G*C*T*G*G*T*G*A*C SEQ ID NO: 12 CUR-1228C*C*T*T*T*G*C*C*C*A*G*C*T*G*A*G*T*G*A SEQ ID NO: 13 CUR-1229G*C*C*C*A*T*G*A*T*T*C*A*G*A*G*C*T*T*T*C*A

The modulation of a desired target nucleic acid can be carried out inseveral ways known in the art. For example, antisense oligonucleotides,siRNA etc. Enzymatic nucleic acid molecules (e.g., ribozymes) arenucleic acid molecules capable of catalyzing one or more of a variety ofreactions, including the ability to repeatedly cleave other separatenucleic acid molecules in a nucleotide base sequence-specific manner.Such enzymatic nucleic acid molecules can be used, for example, totarget virtually any RNA transcript (Zang et al., 324, Nature 429 1986;Cech, 260 JAMA 3030, 1988; and Jefferies et al., 17 Nucleic AcidsResearch 1371, 1989).

Because of their sequence-specificity, trans-cleaving enzymatic nucleicacid molecules show promise as therapeutic agents for human disease(Usman & McSwiggen, (1995) Ann. Rep. Med. Chem. 30, 285-294;Christoffersen and Marr, (1995) J. Med. Chem. 38, 2023-2037). Enzymaticnucleic acid molecules can be designed to cleave specific RNA targetswithin the background of cellular RNA. Such a cleavage event renders themRNA non-functional and abrogates protein expression from that RNA. Inthis manner, synthesis of a protein associated with a disease state canbe selectively inhibited.

In general, enzymatic nucleic acids with RNA cleaving activity act byfirst binding to a target RNA. Such binding occurs through the targetbinding portion of a enzymatic nucleic acid which is held in closeproximity to an enzymatic portion of the molecule that acts to cleavethe target RNA. Thus, the enzymatic nucleic acid first recognizes andthen binds a target RNA through complementary base pairing, and oncebound to the correct site, acts enzymatically to cut the target RNA.Strategic cleavage of such a target RNA will destroy its ability todirect synthesis of an encoded protein. After an enzymatic nucleic acidhas bound and cleaved its RNA target, it is released from that RNA tosearch for another target and can repeatedly bind and cleave newtargets.

Several approaches such as in vitro selection (evolution) strategies(Orgel, (1979) Proc. R. Soc. London, B 205, 435) have been used toevolve new nucleic acid catalysts capable of catalyzing a variety ofreactions, such as cleavage and ligation of phosphodiester linkages andamide linkages, (Joyce, (1989) Gene, 82, 83-87; Beaudry et al., (1992)Science 257, 635-641; Joyce, (1992) Scientific American 267, 90-97;Breaker et al., (1994) TIBTECH 12, 268; Bartel et al., (1993) Science261:1411-1418; Szostak, (1993) TIBS 17, 89-93; Kumar et al., (1995)FASEB J., 9, 1183; Breaker, (1996) Curr. Op. Biotech., 7, 442).

The development of ribozymes that are optimal for catalytic activitywould contribute significantly to any strategy that employs RNA-cleavingribozymes for the purpose of regulating gene expression. The hammerheadribozyme, for example, functions with a catalytic rate (kcat) of about 1min-1 in the presence of saturating (10 mM) concentrations of Mg2+cofactor. An artificial “RNA ligase” ribozyme has been shown to catalyzethe corresponding self-modification reaction with a rate of about 100min-1. In addition, it is known that certain modified hammerheadribozymes that have substrate binding arms made of DNA catalyze RNAcleavage with multiple turn-over rates that approach 100 min-1. Finally,replacement of a specific residue within the catalytic core of thehammerhead with certain nucleotide analogues gives modified ribozymesthat show as much as a 10-fold improvement in catalytic rate. Thesefindings demonstrate that ribozymes can promote chemical transformationswith catalytic rates that are significantly greater than those displayedin vitro by most natural self-cleaving ribozymes. It is then possiblethat the structures of certain selfcleaving ribozymes may be optimizedto give maximal catalytic activity, or that entirely new RNA motifs canbe made that display significantly faster rates for RNA phosphodiestercleavage.

Intermolecular cleavage of an RNA substrate by an RNA catalyst that fitsthe “hammerhead” model was first shown in 1987 (Uhlenbeck, O. C. (1987)Nature, 328: 596-600). The RNA catalyst was recovered and reacted withmultiple RNA molecules, demonstrating that it was truly catalytic.

Catalytic RNAs designed based on the “hammerhead” motif have been usedto cleave specific target sequences by making appropriate base changesin the catalytic RNA to maintain necessary base pairing with the targetsequences (Haseloff and Gerlach, (1988) Nature, 334, 585; Walbot andBruening, (1988) Nature, 334, 196; Uhlenbeck, O. C. (1987) Nature, 328:596-600; Koizumi, M., et al. (1988) FEBS Lett., 228: 228-230). This hasallowed use of the catalytic RNA to cleave specific target sequences andindicates that catalytic RNAs designed according to the “hammerhead”model may possibly cleave specific substrate RNAs in vivo. (see Haseloffand Gerlach, (1988) Nature, 334, 585; Walbot and Bruening, (1988)Nature, 334, 196; Uhlenbeck, O. C. (1987) Nature, 328: 596-600).

RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful tool for modulating geneexpression in mammals and mammalian cells. This approach requires thedelivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) either as RNA itself or asDNA, using an expression plasmid or virus and the coding sequence forsmall hairpin RNAs that are processed to siRNAs. This system enablesefficient transport of the pre-siRNAs to the cytoplasm where they areactive and permit the use of regulated and tissue specific promoters forgene expression.

In a preferred embodiment, an oligonucleotide or antisense compoundcomprises an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and/ordeoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), or a mimetic, chimera, analog or homologthereof. This term includes oligonucleotides composed of naturallyoccurring nucleotides, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone)linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally occurringportions which function similarly. Such modified or substitutedoligonucleotides are often desired over native forms because ofdesirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake,enhanced affinity for a target nucleic acid and increased stability inthe presence of nucleases.

According to the present invention, the oligonucleotides or “antisensecompounds” include antisense oligonucleotides (e.g. RNA, DNA, mimetic,chimera, analog or homolog thereof), ribozymes, external guide sequence(EGS) oligonucleotides, siRNA compounds, single- or double-stranded RNAinterference (RNAi) compounds such as siRNA compounds, saRNA, aRNA, andother oligomeric compounds which hybridize to at least a portion of thetarget nucleic acid and modulate its function. As such, they may be DNA,RNA, DNA-like, RNA-like, or mixtures thereof, or may be mimetics of oneor more of these. These compounds may be single-stranded,double-stranded, circular or hairpin oligomeric compounds and maycontain structural elements such as internal or terminal bulges,mismatches or loops. Antisense compounds are routinely prepared linearlybut can be joined or otherwise prepared to be circular and/or branched.Antisense compounds can include constructs such as, for example, twostrands hybridized to form a wholly or partially double-strandedcompound or a single strand with sufficient self-complementarity toallow for hybridization and formation of a fully or partiallydouble-stranded compound. The two strands can be linked internallyleaving free 3′ or 5′ termini or can be linked to form a continuoushairpin structure or loop. The hairpin structure may contain an overhangon either the 5′ or 3′ terminus producing an extension of singlestranded character. The double stranded compounds optionally can includeoverhangs on the ends. Further modifications can include conjugategroups attached to one of the termini, selected nucleotide positions,sugar positions or to one of the internucleoside linkages.Alternatively, the two strands can be linked via a non-nucleic acidmoiety or linker group. When formed from only one strand, dsRNA can takethe form of a self-complementary hairpin-type molecule that doubles backon itself to form a duplex. Thus, the dsRNAs can be fully or partiallydouble stranded. Specific modulation of gene expression can be achievedby stable expression of dsRNA hairpins in transgenic cell lines (Hammondet al., (1991) Nat. Rev. Genet, 2, 110-119; Matzke et al., (2001) Curr.Opin. Genet. Dev., 11, 221-227; Sharp, (2001) Genes Dev., 15, 485-490).When formed from two strands, or a single strand that takes the form ofa self-complementary hairpin-type molecule doubled back on itself toform a duplex, the two strands (or duplex-forming regions of a singlestrand) are complementary RNA strands that base pair in Watson-Crickfashion.

Once introduced to a system, the compounds of the invention may elicitthe action of one or more enzymes or structural proteins to effectcleavage or other modification of the target nucleic acid or may workvia occupancy-based mechanisms. In general, nucleic acids (includingoligonucleotides) may be described as “DNA-like” (i.e., generally havingone or more 2′-deoxy sugars and, generally, T rather than U bases) or“RNA-like” (i.e., generally having one or more 2′-hydroxyl or2′-modified sugars and, generally U rather than T bases). Nucleic acidhelices can adopt more than one type of structure, most commonly the A-and B-forms. It is believed that, in general, oligonucleotides whichhave B-form-like structure are “DNA-like” and those which haveA-formlike structure are “RNA-like.” In some (chimeric) embodiments, anantisense compound may contain both A- and B-form regions.

The antisense compounds in accordance with this invention can comprisean antisense portion from about 5 to about 80 nucleotides (i.e. fromabout 5 to about 80 linked nucleosides) in length. This refers to thelength of the antisense strand or portion of the antisense compound. Inother words, a single-stranded antisense compound of the inventioncomprises from 5 to about 80 nucleotides, and a double-strandedantisense compound of the invention (such as a dsRNA, for example)comprises a sense and an antisense strand or portion of 5 to about 80nucleotides in length. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat this comprehends antisense portions of 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48,49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66,67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 nucleotides inlength, or any range therewithin.

In one embodiment, the antisense compounds of the invention haveantisense portions of 10 to 50 nucleotides in length. One havingordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this embodiesoligonucleotides having antisense portions of 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33,34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50nucleotides in length, or any range therewithin. In some embodiments,the oligonucleotides are 15 nucleotides in length.

In one embodiment, the antisense or oligonucleotide compounds of theinvention have antisense portions of 12 or 13 to 30 nucleotides inlength. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that thisembodies antisense compounds having antisense portions of 12, 13, 14,15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 or 30nucleotides in length, or any range therewithin.

In another preferred embodiment, the oligomeric compounds of the presentinvention also include variants in which a different base is present atone or more of the nucleotide positions in the compound. For example, ifthe first nucleotide is an adenosine, variants may be produced whichcontain thymidine, guanosine or cytidine at this position. This may bedone at any of the positions of the antisense or dsRNA compounds. Thesecompounds are then tested using the methods described herein todetermine their ability to inhibit expression of a target nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity,between the antisense compound and target is from about 40% to about60%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, is from about 60% to about 70%. In some embodiments,homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is from about 70% toabout 80%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity orcomplementarity, is from about 80% to about 90%. In some embodiments,homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is about 90%, about 92%,about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99% orabout 100%.

In another preferred embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotides, such asfor example, nucleic acid molecules set forth in SEQ ID NOS: 3 to 13comprise one or more substitutions or modifications. In one embodiment,the nucleotides are substituted with locked nucleic acids (LNA).

In another preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides target one or moreregions of the nucleic acid molecules sense and/or antisense of codingand/or non-coding sequences associated with HBF/HBG and the sequencesset forth as SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3. The oligonucleotides are also targeted tooverlapping regions of SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3.

Certain preferred oligonucleotides of this invention are chimericoligonucleotides. “Chimeric oligonucleotides” or “chimeras,” in thecontext of this invention, are oligonucleotides which contain two ormore chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least onenucleotide. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one regionof modified nucleotides that confers one or more beneficial properties(such as, for example, increased nuclease resistance, increased uptakeinto cells, increased binding affinity for the target) and a region thatis a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNAhybrids. By way of example, RNase H is a cellular endonuclease whichcleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H,therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatlyenhancing the efficiency of antisense modulation of gene expression.Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorteroligonucleotides when chimeric oligonucleotides are used, compared tophosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotides hybridizing to the same targetregion. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gelelectrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridizationtechniques known in the art. In one preferred embodiment, a chimericoligonucleotide comprises at least one region modified to increasetarget binding affinity, and, usually, a region that acts as a substratefor RNAse H. Affinity of an oligonucleotide for its target (in thiscase, a nucleic acid encoding ras) is routinely determined by measuringthe Tm of an oligonucleotide/target pair, which is the temperature atwhich the oligonucleotide and target dissociate; dissociation isdetected spectrophotometrically. The higher the Tm, the greater is theaffinity of the oligonucleotide for the target.

Chimeric antisense compounds of the invention may be formed as compositestructures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides,oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotides mimetics as described above.Such; compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids orgapmers. Representative United States patents that teach the preparationof such hybrid structures comprise, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,013,830; 5,149,797; 5,220,007; 5,256,775; 5,366,878; 5,403,711;5,491,133; 5,565,350; 5,623,065; 5,652,355; 5,652,356; and 5,700,922,each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

In another preferred embodiment, the region of the oligonucleotide whichis modified comprises at least one nucleotide modified at the 2′position of the sugar, most preferably a 2′-Oalkyl, 2′-O-alkyl-O-alkylor 2′-fluoro-modified nucleotide. In other preferred embodiments, RNAmodifications include 2′-fluoro, 2′-amino and 2′ O-methyl modificationson the ribose of pyrimidines, abasic residues or an inverted base at the3′ end of the RNA. Such modifications are routinely incorporated intooligonucleotides and these oligonucleotides have been shown to have ahigher Tm (i.e., higher target binding affinity) than;2′-deoxyoligonucleotides against a given target. The effect of suchincreased affinity is to greatly enhance RNAi oligonucleotide inhibitionof gene expression. RNAse H is a cellular endonuclease that cleaves theRNA strand of RNA:DNA duplexes; activation of this enzyme thereforeresults in cleavage of the RNA target, and thus can greatly enhance theefficiency of RNAi inhibition. Cleavage of the RNA target can beroutinely demonstrated by gel electrophoresis. In another preferredembodiment, the chimeric oligonucleotide is also modified to enhancenuclease resistance. Cells contain a variety of exo- and endo-nucleaseswhich can degrade nucleic acids. A number of nucleotide and nucleosidemodifications have been shown to make the oligonucleotide into whichthey are incorporated more resistant to nuclease digestion than thenative oligodeoxynucleotide. Nuclease resistance is routinely measuredby incubating oligonucleotides with cellular extracts or isolatednuclease solutions and measuring the extent of intact oligonucleotideremaining over time, usually by gel electrophoresis. Oligonucleotideswhich have been modified to enhance their nuclease resistance surviveintact for a longer time than unmodified oligonucleotides. A variety ofoligonucleotide modifications have been demonstrated to enhance orconfer nuclease resistance. Oligonucleotides which contain at least onephosphorothioate modification are presently more preferred. In somecases, oligonucleotide modifications which enhance target bindingaffinity are also, independently, able to enhance nuclease resistance.Some desirable modifications can be found in De Mesmaeker et al. (1995)Acc. Chem. Res., 28:366-374.

Specific examples of some preferred oligonucleotides envisioned for thisinvention include those comprising modified backbones, for example,phosphorothioates, phosphotriesters, methyl phosphonates, short chainalkyl or cycloalkyl intersugar linkages or short chain heteroatomic orheterocyclic intersugar linkages. Most preferred are oligonucleotideswith phosphorothioate backbones and those with heteroatom backbones,particularly CH2-NH—O—CH2, CH,—N(CH3)-O—CH2 [known as amethylene(methylimino) or MMI backbone], CH2-O—N(CH3)-CH2,CH2-N(CH3)-N(CH3)-CH2 and O—N(CH3)-CH2-CH2 backbones, wherein the nativephosphodiester backbone is represented as O—P—O—CH,). The amidebackbones disclosed by De Mesmaeker et al. (1995) Acc. Chem. Res.28:366-374 are also preferred. Also preferred are oligonucleotideshaving morpholino backbone structures (Summerton and Weller, U.S. Pat.No. 5,034,506). In other preferred embodiments, such as the peptidenucleic acid (PNA) backbone, the phosphodiester backbone of theoligonucleotide is replaced with a polyamide backbone, the nucleotidesbeing bound directly or indirectly to the aza nitrogen atoms of thepolyamide backbone (Nielsen et al. (1991) Science 254, 1497).Oligonucleotides may also comprise one or more substituted sugarmoieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following atthe 2′ position: OH, SH, SCH3, F, OCN, OCH3 OCH3, OCH3 O(CH2)n CH3,O(CH2)n NH2 or O(CH2)n CH3 where n is from 1 to about 10; C1 to C10lower alkyl, alkoxyalkoxy, substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl or aralkyl;Cl; Br; CN; CF3; OCF3; O-, S-, or N-alkyl; O-, S-, or N-alkenyl; SOCH3;SO2 CH3; ONO2; NO2; N3; NH2; heterocycloalkyl; heterocycloalkaryl;aminoalkylamino; polyalkylamino; substituted silyl; an RNA cleavinggroup; a reporter group; an intercalator; a group for improving thepharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide; or a group forimproving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide and othersubstituents having similar properties. A preferred modificationincludes 2′-methoxyethoxy [2′-O—CH2 CH2 OCH3, also known as2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)] (Martin et al., (1995) Helv. Chim. Acta, 78,486). Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy (2′-O—CH3),2′-propoxy (2′-OCH2 CH2CH3) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). Similar modificationsmay also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularlythe 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide and the 5′position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugarmimetics such as cyclobutyls in place of the pentofuranosyl group.

Oligonucleotides may also include, additionally or alternatively,nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modificationsor substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleotidesinclude adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil(U). Modified nucleotides include nucleotides found only infrequently ortransiently in natural nucleic acids, e.g., hypoxanthine,6-methyladenine, 5-Me pyrimidines, particularly 5-methylcytosine (alsoreferred to as 5-methyl-2′ deoxycytosine and often referred to in theart as 5-Me—C), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (HMC), glycosyl HMC andgentobiosyl HMC, as well as synthetic nucleotides, e.g., 2-aminoadenine,2-(methylamino)adenine, 2-(imidazolylalkyl)adenine,2-(aminoalklyamino)adenine or other heterosubstituted alkyladenines,2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine, 5-bromouracil, 5-hydroxymethyluracil,8-azaguanine, 7-deazaguanine, N6 (6-aminohexyl)adenine and2,6-diaminopurine. (Kornberg, A., DNA Replication, W. H. Freeman & Co.,San Francisco, 1980, pp 75-77; Gebeyehu, G., (1987) et al. Nucl. AcidsRes. 15:4513). A “universal” base known in the art, e.g., inosine, maybe included: 5-Me—C substitutions have been shown to increase nucleicacid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. (Sanghvi, Y. S., in Crooke, S. T.and Lebleu, B., eds., Antisense Research and Applications, CRC Press,Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and are presently preferred basesubstitutions.

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involveschemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties orconjugates which enhance the activity or cellular uptake of theoligonucleotide. Such moieties include but are not limited to lipidmoieties such as a cholesterol moiety, a cholesteryl moiety (Letsingeret al., (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 6553), cholic acid(Manoharan et al. (1994) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let. 4, 1053), a thioether,e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol (Manoharan et al. (1992) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.660, 306; Manoharan et al. (1993) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let. 3, 2765), athiocholesterol (Oberhauser et al., (1992) Nucl. Acids Res. 20, 533), analiphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaraset al. EMBO J. 1991, 10, 111; Kabanov et al. (1990) FEBS Lett. 259, 327;Svinarchuk et al. (1993) Biochimie 75, 49), a phospholipid, e.g.,di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al. (1995)Tetrahedron Lett. 36, 3651; Shea et al. (1990) Nucl. Acids Res. 18,3777), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al.(1995) Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 14, 969), or adamantane acetic acid(Manoharan et al. (1995) Tetrahedron Lett. 36, 3651). Oligonucleotidescomprising lipophilic moieties, and methods for preparing sucholigonucleotides are known in the art, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,138,045, 5,218,105 and 5,459,255.

It is not necessary for all positions in a given oligonucleotide to beuniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementionedmodifications may be incorporated in a single oligonucleotide or even atwithin a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide. The presentinvention also includes oligonucleotides which are chimericoligonucleotides as hereinbefore defined.

In another embodiment, the nucleic acid molecule of the presentinvention is conjugated with another moiety including but not limited toabasic nucleotides, polyether, polyamine, polyamides, peptides,carbohydrates, lipid, or polyhydrocarbon compounds. Those skilled in theart will recognize that these molecules can be linked to one or more ofany nucleotides comprising the nucleic acid molecule at severalpositions on the sugar, base or phosphate group.

The oligonucleotides used in accordance with this invention may beconveniently and routinely made through the well-known technique ofsolid phase synthesis. Equipment for such synthesis is sold by severalvendors including Applied Biosystems. Any other means for such synthesismay also be employed; the actual synthesis of the oligonucleotides iswell within the talents of one of ordinary skill in the art. It is alsowell known to use similar techniques to prepare other oligonucleotidessuch as the phosphorothioates and alkylated derivatives. It is also wellknown to use similar techniques and commercially available modifiedamidites and controlled-pore glass (CPG) products such as biotin,fluorescein, acridine or psoralen-modified amidites and/or CPG(available from Glen Research, Sterling Va.) to synthesize fluorescentlylabeled, biotinylated or other modified oligonucleotides such ascholesterol-modified oligonucleotides.

In accordance with the invention, use of modifications such as the useof LNA monomers to enhance the potency, specificity and duration ofaction and broaden the routes of administration of oligonucleotidescomprised of current chemistries such as MOE, ANA, FANA, PS etc (Uhlman,et al. (2000) Current Opinions in Drug Discovery & Development Vol. 3 No2). This can be achieved by substituting some of the monomers in thecurrent oligonucleotides by LNA monomers. The LNA modifiedoligonucleotide may have a size similar to the parent compound or may belarger or preferably smaller. It is preferred that such LNA-modifiedoligonucleotides contain less than about 70%, more preferably less thanabout 60%, most preferably less than about 50% LNA monomers and thattheir sizes are between about 5 and 25 nucleotides, more preferablybetween about 12 and 20 nucleotides.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones comprise, but not limitedto, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates,phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkylphosphonates comprising 3′ alkylene phosphonates and chiralphosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates comprising 3′-aminophosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates,thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, andboranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs ofthese, and those having inverted polarity wherein the adjacent pairs ofnucleoside units are linked 3′-5′ to 5′-3′ or 2′-5′ to 5′-2′. Varioussalts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of theabove phosphorus containing linkages comprise, but are not limited to,U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,301; 5,023,243; 5,177,196;5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131;5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925;5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,306; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799;5,587,361; and 5,625,050, each of which is herein incorporated byreference.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include aphosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chainalkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkylor cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chainheteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These comprisethose having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portionof a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfonebackbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyland thioformacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamatebackbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonateand sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N,O, S and CH2 component parts.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of theabove oligonucleosides comprise, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033;5,264,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967;5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289;5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312;5,633,360; 5,677,437; and 5,677,439, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

In other preferred oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and theinternucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units arereplaced with novel groups. The base units are maintained forhybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound. One sucholigomeric compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown tohave excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptidenucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of anoligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, inparticular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retainedand are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amideportion of the backbone. Representative United States patents that teachthe preparation of PNA compounds comprise, but are not limited to, U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can befound in Nielsen, et al. (1991) Science 254, 1497-1500.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the oligonucleotideswith phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatombackbones, and in particular-CH2-NH—O—CH2-, —CH2-N(CH3)-O—CH2- known asa methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone, —CH2-O—N(CH3)-CH2-,—CH2N(CH3)-N(CH3) CH2- and —O—N(CH3)-CH2-CH2- wherein the nativephosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH2- of the abovereferenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the abovereferenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotideshaving morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat.No. 5,034,506.

Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugarmoieties. Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following atthe 2′ position: OH; F; O-, S-, or N-alkyl; O-, S-, or N-alkenyl; O-, S-or N-alkynyl; or O alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynylmay be substituted or unsubstituted C to CO alkyl or C2 to CO alkenyland alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O (CH2)n OmCH3, O(CH2)n, OCH3,O(CH2)nNH2, O(CH2)nCH3, O(CH2)nONH2, and O(CH2nON(CH2)nCH3)2 where n andm can be from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides compriseone of the following at the 2′ position: C to CO, (lower alkyl,substituted lower alkyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH,SCH3, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF3, OCF3, SOCH3, SO2CH3, ONO2, NO2, N3, NH2,heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino,substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, anintercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of anoligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic propertiesof an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties.A preferred modification comprises 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH2CH2OCH3,also known as 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) (Martin et al., (1995)Helv. Chim. Acta, 78, 486-504) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group. A furtherpreferred modification comprises 2′-dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., aO(CH2)2ON(CH3)2 group, also known as 2′-DMAOE, as described in examplesherein below, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as2′-O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e.,2′-O—CH2-O—CH2-N(CH2)2.

Other preferred modifications comprise 2′-methoxy (2′-O CH3),2′-aminopropoxy (2′-O CH2CH2CH2NH2) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). Similarmodifications may also be made at other positions on theoligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Oligonucleotides may also have sugarmimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosylsugar. Representative United States patents that teach the preparationof such modified sugar structures comprise, but are not limited to, U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878;5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427;5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265;5,658,873; 5,670,633; and 5,700,920, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Oligonucleotides may also comprise nucleobase (often referred to in theart simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein,“unmodified” or “natural” nucleotides comprise the purine bases adenine(A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C)and uracil (U). Modified nucleotides comprise other synthetic andnatural nucleotides such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and otheralkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkylderivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl uracil andcytosine, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudo-uracil),4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl andother 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo,5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines,7-methylquanine and 7-methyladenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine,7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine.

Further, nucleotides comprise those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,687,808, those disclosed in ‘The Concise Encyclopedia of PolymerScience And Engineering’, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. I., ed. JohnWiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al., ‘AngewandleChemie, International Edition’, 1991, 30, page 613, and those disclosedby Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, ‘Antisense Research and Applications’,pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B. ea., CRC Press, 1993.Certain of these nucleotides are particularly useful for increasing thebinding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention. Thesecomprise 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and0-6 substituted purines, comprising 2-aminopropyladenine,5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutionshave been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C.(Sanghvi, Y. S., Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., eds, ‘Antisense Researchand Applications’, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and arepresently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly whencombined with 2′-Omethoxyethyl sugar modifications.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of theabove noted modified nucleotides as well as other modified nucleotidescomprise, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,808, as well as4,845,205; 5,130,302; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,066; 5,432,272;5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540;5,587,469; 5,596,091; 5,614,617; 5,750,692, and 5,681,941, each of whichis herein incorporated by reference.

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involveschemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties orconjugates, which enhance the activity, cellular distribution, orcellular uptake of the oligonucleotide.

Such moieties comprise but are not limited to, lipid moieties such as acholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al., (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al., (1994) Bioorg. Med. Chem.Let., 4, 1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol (Manoharanet al., (1992) Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 660, 306-309; Manoharan et al.,(1993) Bioorg. Med. Chem. Let., 3, 2765-2770), a thiocholesterol(Oberhauser et al., (1992) Nucl. Acids Res., 20, 533-538), an aliphaticchain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues (Kabanov et al., (1990)FEBS Lett., 259, 327-330; Svinarchuk et al., (1993) Biochimie 75,49-54), a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol ortriethylammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate(Manoharan et al., (1995) Tetrahedron Lett., 36, 3651-3654; Shea et al.,(1990) Nucl. Acids Res., 18, 3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethyleneglycol chain (Mancharan et al., (1995) Nucleosides & Nucleotides, 14,969-973), or adamantane acetic acid (Manoharan et al., (1995)Tetrahedron Lett., 36, 3651-3654), a palmityl moiety (Mishra et al.,(1995) Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1264, 229-237), or an octadecylamine orhexylamino-carbonyl-t oxycholesterol moiety (Crooke et al., (1996) J.Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 277, 923-937).

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of sucholigonucleotides conjugates comprise, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730;5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124;5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718;5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737;4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830;5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022;5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098;5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667;5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371;5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, each of whichis herein incorporated by reference.

Drug discovery: The compounds of the present invention can also beapplied in the areas of drug discovery and target validation. Thepresent invention comprehends the use of the compounds and preferredtarget segments identified herein in drug discovery efforts to elucidaterelationships that exist between Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotidesand a disease state, phenotype, or condition. These methods includedetecting or modulating Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides comprisingcontacting a sample, tissue, cell, or organism with the compounds of thepresent invention, measuring the nucleic acid or protein level ofHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides and/or a related phenotypic orchemical endpoint at some time after treatment, and optionally comparingthe measured value to a non-treated sample or sample treated with afurther compound of the invention. These methods can also be performedin parallel or in combination with other experiments to determine thefunction of unknown genes for the process of target validation or todetermine the validity of a particular gene product as a target fortreatment or prevention of a particular disease, condition, orphenotype.

Assessing Up-Regulation or Inhibition of Gene Expression:

Transfer of an exogenous nucleic acid into a host cell or organism canbe assessed by directly detecting the presence of the nucleic acid inthe cell or organism. Such detection can be achieved by several methodswell known in the art. For example, the presence of the exogenousnucleic acid can be detected by Southern blot or by a polymerase chainreaction (PCR) technique using primers that specifically amplifynucleotide sequences associated with the nucleic acid. Expression of theexogenous nucleic acids can also be measured using conventional methodsincluding gene expression analysis. For instance, mRNA produced from anexogenous nucleic acid can be detected and quantified using a Northernblot and reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR).

Expression of RNA from the exogenous nucleic acid can also be detectedby measuring an enzymatic activity or a reporter protein activity. Forexample, antisense modulatory activity can be measured indirectly as adecrease or increase in target nucleic acid expression as an indicationthat the exogenous nucleic acid is producing the effector RNA. Based onsequence conservation, primers can be designed and used to amplifycoding regions of the target genes. Initially, the most highly expressedcoding region from each gene can be used to build a model control gene,although any coding or non coding region can be used. Each control geneis assembled by inserting each coding region between a reporter codingregion and its poly(A) signal. These plasmids would produce an mRNA witha reporter gene in the upstream portion of the gene and a potential RNAitarget in the 3′ non-coding region. The effectiveness of individualantisense oligonucleotides would be assayed by modulation of thereporter gene. Reporter genes useful in the methods of the presentinvention include acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS), alkaline phosphatase(AP), beta galactosidase (LacZ), beta glucoronidase (GUS),chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT), green fluorescent protein(GFP), red fluorescent protein (RFP), yellow fluorescent protein (YFP),cyan fluorescent protein (CFP), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), luciferase(Luc), nopaline synthase (NOS), octopine synthase (OCS), and derivativesthereof. Multiple selectable markers are available that conferresistance to ampicillin, bleomycin, chloramphenicol, gentamycin,hygromycin, kanamycin, lincomycin, methotrexate, phosphinothricin,puromycin, and tetracycline. Methods to determine modulation of areporter gene are well known in the art, and include, but are notlimited to, fluorometric methods (e.g. fluorescence spectroscopy,Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS), fluorescence microscopy),antibiotic resistance determination.

HBF/HBG protein and mRNA expression can be assayed using methods knownto those of skill in the art and described elsewhere herein. Forexample, immunoassays such as the ELISA can be used to measure proteinlevels. HBF/HBG antibodies for ELISAs are available commercially, e.g.,from Abnova Corporation, Walnut, Calif., Abcam, Cambridge, Mass.

In embodiments, HBF/HBG expression (e.g., mRNA or protein) in a sample(e.g., cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro) treated using an antisenseoligonucleotide of the invention is evaluated by comparison with HBF/HBGexpression in a control sample. For example, expression of the proteinor nucleic acid can be compared using methods known to those of skill inthe art with that in a mock-treated or untreated sample. Alternatively,comparison with a sample treated with a control antisenseoligonucleotide (e.g., one having an altered or different sequence) canbe made depending on the information desired. In another embodiment, adifference in the expression of the HBF/HBG protein or nucleic acid in atreated vs. an untreated sample can be compared with the difference inexpression of a different nucleic acid (including any standard deemedappropriate by the researcher, e.g., a housekeeping gene) in a treatedsample vs. an untreated sample.

Observed differences can be expressed as desired, e.g., in the form of aratio or fraction, for use in a comparison with control. In embodiments,the level of HBF/HBG mRNA or protein, in a sample treated with anantisense oligonucleotide of the present invention, is increased ordecreased by about 1.25-fold to about 10-fold or more relative to anuntreated sample or a sample treated with a control nucleic acid. Inembodiments, the level of HBF/HBG mRNA or protein is increased ordecreased by at least about 1.25-fold, at least about 1.3-fold, at leastabout 1.4-fold, at least about 1.5-fold, at least about 1.6-fold, atleast about 1.7-fold, at least about 1.8-fold, at least about 2-fold, atleast about 2.5-fold, at least about 3-fold, at least about 3.5-fold, atleast about 4-fold, at least about 4.5-fold, at least about 5-fold, atleast about 5.5-fold, at least about 6-fold, at least about 6.5-fold, atleast about 7-fold, at least about 7.5-fold, at least about 8-fold, atleast about 8.5-fold, at least about 9-fold, at least about 9.5-fold, orat least about 10-fold or more.

Kits, Research Reagents, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics

The compounds of the present invention can be utilized for diagnostics,therapeutics, and prophylaxis, and as research reagents and componentsof kits. Furthermore, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able toinhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used bythose of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes orto distinguish between functions of various members of a biologicalpathway.

For use in kits and diagnostics and in various biological systems, thecompounds of the present invention, either alone or in combination withother compounds or therapeutics, are useful as tools in differentialand/or combinatorial analyses to elucidate expression patterns of aportion or the entire complement of genes expressed within cells andtissues.

As used herein the term “biological system” or “system” is defined asany organism, cell, cell culture or tissue that expresses, or is madecompetent to express products of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) genes. Theseinclude, but are not limited to, humans, transgenic animals, cells, cellcultures, tissues, xenografts, transplants and combinations thereof.

As one non limiting example, expression patterns within cells or tissuestreated with one or more antisense compounds are compared to controlcells or tissues not treated with antisense compounds and the patternsproduced are analyzed for differential levels of gene expression as theypertain, for example, to disease association, signaling pathway,cellular localization, expression level, size, structure or function ofthe genes examined. These analyses can be performed on stimulated orunstimulated cells and in the presence or absence of other compoundsthat affect expression patterns.

Examples of methods of gene expression analysis known in the art includeDNA arrays or microarrays (Brazma and Vilo, (2000) FEBS Lett., 480;17-24; Celis, et al., (2000) FEBS Lett., 480, 2-16), SAGE (serialanalysis of gene expression) (Madden, et al., (2000) Drug Discov. Today,5, 415-425), READS (restriction enzyme amplification of digested cDNAs)(Prashar and Weissman, (1999) Methods Enzymol., 303, 258-72), TOGA(total gene expression analysis) (Sutcliffe, et al., (2000) Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 97, 1976-81), protein arrays and proteomics (Celis,et al., (2000) FEBS Lett., 480, 2-16; Jungblut, et al., Electrophoresis,1999, 20, 2100-10), expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing (Celis, etal., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Larsson, et al., J. Biotechnol., 2000,80, 143-57), subtractive RNA fingerprinting (SuRF) (Fuchs, et al.,(2000) Anal. Biochem. 286, 91-98; Larson, et al., (2000) Cytometry 41,203-208), subtractive cloning, differential display (DD) (Jurecic andBelmont, (2000) Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 3, 316-21), comparative genomichybridization (Carulli, et al., (1998) J. Cell Biochem. Suppl., 31,286-96), FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) techniques (Going andGusterson, (1999) Eur. J. Cancer, 35, 1895-904) and mass spectrometrymethods (To, Comb. (2000) Chem. High Throughput Screen, 3, 235-41).

The compounds of the invention are useful for research and diagnostics,because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG). For example, oligonucleotides that hybridize with suchefficiency and under such conditions as disclosed herein as to beeffective Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) modulators are effective primers orprobes under conditions favoring gene amplification or detection,respectively. These primers and probes are useful in methods requiringthe specific detection of nucleic acid molecules encoding Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) and in the amplification of said nucleic acid molecules fordetection or for use in further studies of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG).Hybridization of the antisense oligonucleotides, particularly theprimers and probes, of the invention with a nucleic acid encodingHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) can be detected by means known in the art. Suchmeans may include conjugation of an enzyme to the oligonucleotide,radiolabeling of the oligonucleotide, or any other suitable detectionmeans. Kits using such detection means for detecting the level ofHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in a sample may also be prepared.

The specificity and sensitivity of antisense are also harnessed by thoseof skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense compounds have beenemployed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states inanimals, including humans. Antisense oligonucleotide drugs have beensafely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinicaltrials are presently underway. It is thus established that antisensecompounds can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured tobe useful in treatment regimes for the treatment of cells, tissues andanimals, especially humans.

For therapeutics, an animal, preferably a human, suspected of having adisease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression ofHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides is treated by administeringantisense compounds in accordance with this invention. For example, inone non-limiting embodiment, the methods comprise the step ofadministering to the animal in need of treatment, a therapeuticallyeffective amount of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) modulator. The Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) modulators of the present invention effectively modulate theactivity of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) or modulate the expression of theHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) protein. In one embodiment, the activity orexpression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in an animal is inhibited by about10% as compared to a control. Preferably, the activity or expression ofHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in an animal is inhibited by about 30%. Morepreferably, the activity or expression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in ananimal is inhibited by 50% or more. Thus, the oligomeric compoundsmodulate expression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) mRNA by at least 10%, by atleast 50%, by at least 25%, by at least 30%, by at least 40%, by atleast 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 75%, by atleast 80%, by at least 85%, by at least 90%, by at least 95%, by atleast 98%, by at least 99%, or by 100% as compared to a control.

In one embodiment, the activity or expression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG)and/or in an animal is increased by about 10% as compared to a control.Preferably, the activity or expression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in ananimal is increased by about 30%. More preferably, the activity orexpression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in an animal is increased by 50% ormore. Thus, the oligomeric compounds modulate expression of Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) mRNA by at least 10%, by at least 50%, by at least 25%, by atleast 30%, by at least 40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by atleast 70%, by at least 75%, by at least 80%, by at least 85%, by atleast 90%, by at least 95%, by at least 98%, by at least 99%, or by 100%as compared to a control.

For example, the reduction of the expression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) maybe measured in serum, blood, adipose tissue, liver or any other bodyfluid, tissue or organ of the animal. Preferably, the cells containedwithin said fluids, tissues or organs being analyzed contain a nucleicacid molecule encoding Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) peptides and/or theHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) protein itself.

The compounds of the invention can be utilized in pharmaceuticalcompositions by adding an effective amount of a compound to a suitablepharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. Use of the compounds andmethods of the invention may also be useful prophylactically.

Conjugates

Another modification of the oligonucleotides of the invention involveschemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties orconjugates that enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellularuptake of the oligonucleotide. These moieties or conjugates can includeconjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primaryor secondary hydroxyl groups. Conjugate groups of the invention includeintercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethyleneglycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic propertiesof oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties ofoligomers. Typicalconjugate groups include cholesterols, lipids,phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone,acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes. Groups thatenhance the pharmacodynamic properties, in the context of thisinvention, include groups that improve uptake, enhance resistance todegradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with thetarget nucleic acid. Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties,in the context of this invention, include groups that improve uptake,distribution, metabolism or excretion of the compounds of the presentinvention. Representative conjugate groups are disclosed inInternational Patent Application No. PCT/US92/09196, filed Oct. 23,1992, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which are incorporated herein byreference. Conjugate moieties include, but are not limited to, lipidmoieties such as a cholesterol moiety, cholic acid, a thioether, e.g.,hexyl-5-tritylthiol, a thiocholesterol, an aliphatic chain, e.g.,dodecandiol or undecyl residues, a phospholipid, e.g.,di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-Hphosphonate, a polyamine or apolyethylene glycol chain, or adamantane acetic acid, a palmityl moiety,or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety.Oligonucleotides of the invention may also be conjugated to active drugsubstances, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen,suprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, (S)-(+)-pranoprofen, carprofen,dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, flufenamic acid, folinicacid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indomethicin, abarbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, anantibacterial or an antibiotic.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of sucholigonucleotides conjugates include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730;5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124;5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718;5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737;4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830;5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022;5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098;5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667;5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371;5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941.

Formulations

The compounds of the invention may also be admixed, encapsulated,conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, moleculestructures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes,receptor-targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or otherformulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption.Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of suchuptake, distribution and/or absorption-assisting formulations include,but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,921; 5,354,844; 5,416,016;5,459,127; 5,521,291; 5,543,165; 5,547,932; 5,583,020; 5,591,721;4,426,330; 4,534,899; 5,013,556; 5,108,921; 5,213,804; 5,227,170;5,264,221; 5,356,633; 5,395,619; 5,416,016; 5,417,978; 5,462,854;5,469,854; 5,512,295; 5,527,528; 5,534,259; 5,543,152; 5,556,948;5,580,575; and 5,595,756, each of which is herein incorporated byreference.

Although, the antisense oligonucleotides do not need to be administeredin the context of a vector in order to modulate a target expressionand/or function, embodiments of the invention relates to expressionvector constructs for the expression of antisense oligonucleotides,comprising promoters, hybrid promoter gene sequences and possess astrong constitutive promoter activity, or a promoter activity which canbe induced in the desired case.

In an embodiment, invention practice involves administering at least oneof the foregoing antisense oligonucleotides with a suitable nucleic aciddelivery system. In one embodiment, that system includes a non-viralvector operably linked to the polynucleotide. Examples of such nonviralvectors include the oligonucleotide alone (e.g. any one or more of SEQID NOS: 4 to 13) or in combination with a suitable protein,polysaccharide or lipid formulation.

Additionally suitable nucleic acid delivery systems include viralvector, typically sequence from at least one of an adenovirus,adenovirus-associated virus (AAV), helper-dependent adenovirus,retrovirus, or hemagglutinatin virus of Japan-liposome (HVJ) complex.Preferably, the viral vector comprises a strong eukaryotic promoteroperably linked to the polynucleotide e.g., a cytomegalovirus (CMV)promoter.

Additionally preferred vectors include viral vectors, fusion proteinsand chemical conjugates. Retroviral vectors include Moloney murineleukemia viruses and HIV-based viruses. One preferred HIV-based viralvector comprises at least two vectors wherein the gag and pol genes arefrom an HIV genome and the env gene is from another virus. DNA viralvectors are preferred. These vectors include pox vectors such asorthopox or avipox vectors, herpesvirus vectors such as a herpes simplexI virus (HSV) vector [Geller, A. I. et al., (1995) J. Neurochem, 64:487; Lim, F., et al., in DNA Cloning: Mammalian Systems, D. Glover, Ed.(Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford England) (1995); Geller, A. I. et al.,(1993) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci.: U.S.A.: 90 7603; Geller, A. I., et al.,(1990) Proc Natl. Acad. Sci USA: 87:1149], Adenovirus Vectors (LeGalLaSalle et al., Science, 259:988 (1993); Davidson, et al., (1993) Nat.Genet. 3: 219; Yang, et al., (1995) J. Virol. 69: 2004) andAdeno-associated Virus Vectors (Kaplitt, M. G., et al., (1994) Nat.Genet. 8:148).

The antisense compounds of the invention encompass any pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compoundwhich, upon administration to an animal, including a human, is capableof providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metaboliteor residue thereof.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to physiologicallyand pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention:i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parentcompound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto. Foroligonucleotides, preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptablesalts and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860,which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions andformulations that include the antisense compounds of the invention. Thepharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administeredin a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatmentis desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may betopical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginaland rectal delivery), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation ofpowders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal,epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteraladministration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous,intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial,e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration.

The subject antisense compounds may be admixed, encapsulated, conjugatedor otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures ormixtures of compounds, for example, liposomes, receptor-targetedmolecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting inuptake, distribution and/or absorption. For example, cationic lipids maybe included in the formulation to facilitate oligonucleotide uptake. Onesuch composition shown to facilitate uptake is LIPOFECTIN (availablefrom GIBCO-BRL, Bethesda, Md.).

Oligonucleotides with at least one 2′-O-methoxyethyl modification arebelieved to be particularly useful for oral administration.Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administrationmay include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels,drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventionalpharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners andthe like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and thelike may also be useful.

The pharmaceutical formulations of the present invention, which mayconveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared accordingto conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry.Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the activeingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). Ingeneral, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimatelybringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers orfinely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shapingthe product.

The compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any ofmany possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets,capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, andenemas. The compositions of the present invention may also be formulatedas suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueoussuspensions may further contain substances that increase the viscosityof the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose,sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention include, but arenot limited to, solutions, emulsions, foams and liposome-containingformulations. The pharmaceutical compositions and formulations of thepresent invention may comprise one or more penetration enhancers,carriers, excipients or other active or inactive ingredients.

Emulsions are typically heterogeneous systems of one liquid dispersed inanother in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 μm in diameter.Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersedphases, and the active drug that may be present as a solution in eitherthe aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase.Microemulsions are included as an embodiment of the present invention.Emulsions and their uses are well known in the art and are furtherdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860.

Formulations of the present invention include liposomal formulations. Asused in the present invention, the term “liposome” means a vesiclecomposed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer orbilayers. Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which havea membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interiorthat contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes arepositively charged liposomes that are believed to interact withnegatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. Liposomesthat are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged are believed to entrap DNArather than complex with it. Both cationic and noncationic liposomeshave been used to deliver DNA to cells.

Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which,as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specializedlipids. When incorporated into liposomes, these specialized lipidsresult in liposomes with enhanced circulation lifetimes relative toliposomeslacking such specialized lipids. Examples of stericallystabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forminglipid portion of the liposome comprises one or more glycolipids or isderivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as apolyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. Liposomes and their uses are furtherdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860.

The pharmaceutical formulations and compositions of the presentinvention may also include surfactants. The use of surfactants in drugproducts, formulations and in emulsions is well known in the art.Surfactants and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No.6,287,860, which is incorporated herein by reference.

In one embodiment, the present invention employs various penetrationenhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids,particularly oligonucleotides. In addition to aiding the diffusion ofnon-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers alsoenhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs. Penetration enhancers maybe classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e.,surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, andnon-chelating nonsurfactants. Penetration enhancers and their uses arefurther described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

One of skill in the art will recognize that formulations are routinelydesigned according to their intended use, i.e. route of administration.

Preferred formulations for topical administration include those in whichthe oligonucleotides of the invention are in admixture with a topicaldelivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acidesters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants. Preferred lipids andliposomes include neutral (e.g. dioleoyl-phosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine,dimyristoylphosphatidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline)negative (e.g. dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g.dioleoyltetramethylaminopropyl DOTAP and dioleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine DOTMA).

For topical or other administration, oligonucleotides of the inventionmay be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, inparticular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may becomplexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids. Preferred fattyacids and esters, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and theiruses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860.

Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders orgranules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutionsin water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tabletsor minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers,dispersing aids or binders may be desirable. Preferred oral formulationsare those in which oligonucleotides of the invention are administered inconjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants andchelators. Preferred surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters orsalts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof. Preferred bileacids/salts and fatty acids and their uses are further described in U.S.Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein by reference. Alsopreferred are combinations of penetration enhancers, for example, fattyacids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts. A particularlypreferred combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid andUDCA. Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-laurylether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether. Oligonucleotides of the inventionmay be delivered orally, in granular form including sprayed driedparticles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles. Oligonucleotidecomplexing agents and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No.6,287,860, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal orintraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutionsthat may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additivessuch as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compoundsand other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

Certain embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositionscontaining one or more oligomeric compounds and one or more otherchemotherapeutic agents that function by a non-antisense mechanism.Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited tocancer chemotherapeutic drugs such as daunorubicin, daunomycin,dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin,bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside,bischloroethyl-nitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D,mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen,dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine,mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea,nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine,6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin,4-hydroxyperoxycyclo-phosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU),5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol,vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, irinotecan,topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol(DES). When used with the compounds of the invention, suchchemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e.g., 5-FU andoligonucleotide), sequentially (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide for aperiod of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide), or in combinationwith one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX andoligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide).Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs,including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir andganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions of the invention.Combinations of antisense compounds and other non-antisense drugs arealso within the scope of this invention. Two or more combined compoundsmay be used together or sequentially.

In another related embodiment, compositions of the invention may containone or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targetedto a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compoundstargeted to a second nucleic acid target. For example, the first targetmay be a particular antisense sequence of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG), and thesecond target may be a region from another nucleotide sequence.Alternatively, compositions of the invention may contain two or moreantisense compounds targeted to different regions of the same Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) nucleic acid target. Numerous examples of antisense compoundsare illustrated herein and others may be selected from among suitablecompounds known in the art. Two or more combined compounds may be usedtogether or sequentially.

Dosing:

The formulation of therapeutic compositions and their subsequentadministration (dosing) is believed to be within the skill of those inthe art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of thedisease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting fromseveral days to several months, or until a cure is effected or adiminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedulescan be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body ofthe patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimumdosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages mayvary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides,and can generally be estimated based on EC50s found to be effective inin vitro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 μgto 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily,weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years. Persons ofordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates fordosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drugin bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may bedesirable to have the patient undergo maintenance therapy to prevent therecurrence of the disease state, wherein the oligonucleotide isadministered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 μg to 100 g per kgof body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years.

In embodiments, a patient is treated with a dosage of drug that is atleast about 1, at least about 2, at least about 3, at least about 4, atleast about 5, at least about 6, at least about 7, at least about 8, atleast about 9, at least about 10, at least about 15, at least about 20,at least about 25, at least about 30, at least about 35, at least about40, at least about 45, at least about 50, at least about 60, at leastabout 70, at least about 80, at least about 90, or at least about 100mg/kg body weight. Certain injected dosages of antisenseoligonucleotides are described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 7,563,884,“Antisense modulation of PTP1B expression,” incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosedembodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the breadthand scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of theabove described embodiments.

All documents mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference. Allpublications and patent documents cited in this application areincorporated by reference for all purposes to the same extent as if eachindividual publication or patent document were so individually denoted.By their citation of various references in this document, Applicants donot admit any particular reference is “prior art” to their invention.Embodiments of inventive compositions and methods are illustrated in thefollowing examples.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting Examples serve to illustrate selectedembodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated that variations inproportions and alternatives in elements of the components shown will beapparent to those skilled in the art and are within the scope ofembodiments of the present invention.

Example 1 Design of Antisense Oligonucleotides Specific for a NucleicAcid Molecule Antisense to Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) and/or a Sense Strand ofHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) Polynucleotide

As indicated above the term “oligonucleotide specific for” or“oligonucleotide targets” refers to an oligonucleotide having a sequence(i) capable of forming a stable complex with a portion of the targetedgene, or (ii) capable of forming a stable duplex with a portion of anmRNA transcript of the targeted gene.

Selection of appropriate oligonucleotides is facilitated by usingcomputer programs that automatically align nucleic acid sequences andindicate regions of identity or homology. Such programs are used tocompare nucleic acid sequences obtained, for example, by searchingdatabases such as GenBank or by sequencing PCR products. Comparison ofnucleic acid sequences from a range of species allows the selection ofnucleic acid sequences that display an appropriate degree of identitybetween species. In the case of genes that have not been sequenced,Southern blots are performed to allow a determination of the degree ofidentity between genes in target species and other species. Byperforming Southern blots at varying degrees of stringency, as is wellknown in the art, it is possible to obtain an approximate measure ofidentity. These procedures allow the selection of oligonucleotides thatexhibit a high degree of complementarity to target nucleic acidsequences in a subject to be controlled and a lower degree ofcomplementarity to corresponding nucleic acid sequences in otherspecies. One skilled in the art will realize that there is considerablelatitude in selecting appropriate regions of genes for use in thepresent invention.

An antisense compound is “specifically hybridizable” when binding of thecompound to the target nucleic acid interferes with the normal functionof the target nucleic acid to cause a modulation of function and/oractivity, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoidnon-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target nucleicacid sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired,i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays ortherapeutic treatment, and under conditions in which assays areperformed in the case of in vitro assays

The hybridization properties of the oligonucleotides described hereincan be determined by one or more in vitro assays as known in the art.For example, the properties of the oligonucleotides described herein canbe obtained by determination of binding strength between the targetnatural antisense and a potential drug molecules using melting curveassay.

The binding strength between the target natural antisense and apotential drug molecule (Molecule) can be estimated using any of theestablished methods of measuring the strength of intermolecularinteractions, for example, a melting curve assay.

Melting curve assay determines the temperature at which a rapidtransition from double-stranded to single-stranded conformation occursfor the natural antisense/Molecule complex. This temperature is widelyaccepted as a reliable measure of the interaction strength between thetwo molecules.

A melting curve assay can be performed using a cDNA copy of the actualnatural antisense RNA molecule or a synthetic DNA or RNA nucleotidecorresponding to the binding site of the Molecule. Multiple kitscontaining all necessary reagents to perform this assay are available(e.g. Applied Biosystems Inc. MeltDoctor kit). These kits include asuitable buffer solution containing one of the double strand DNA (dsDNA)binding dyes (such as ABI HRM dyes, SYBR Green, SYTO, etc.). Theproperties of the dsDNA dyes are such that they emit almost nofluorescence in free form, but are highly fluorescent when bound todsDNA.

To perform the assay the cDNA or a corresponding oligonucleotide aremixed with Molecule in concentrations defined by the particularmanufacturer's protocols. The mixture is heated to 95° C. to dissociateall pre-formed dsDNA complexes, then slowly cooled to room temperatureor other lower temperature defined by the kit manufacturer to allow theDNA molecules to anneal. The newly formed complexes are then slowlyheated to 95° C. with simultaneous continuous collection of data on theamount of fluorescence that is produced by the reaction. Thefluorescence intensity is inversely proportional to the amounts of dsDNApresent in the reaction. The data can be collected using a real time PCRinstrument compatible with the kit (e.g.ABI's StepOne Plus Real Time PCRSystem or LightTyper instrument, Roche Diagnostics, Lewes, UK).

Melting peaks are constructed by plotting the negative derivative offluorescence with respect to temperature (-d(Fluorescence)/dT) on they-axis) against temperature (x-axis) using appropriate software (forexample LightTyper (Roche) or SDS Dissociation Curve, ABI). The data isanalyzed to identify the temperature of the rapid transition from dsDNAcomplex to single strand molecules. This temperature is called Tm and isdirectly proportional to the strength of interaction between the twomolecules. Typically, Tm will exceed 40° C.

Example 2 Modulation of HBF/HBG Polynucleotides Treatment of HepG2 Cellswith Antisense Oligonucleotides

HepG2 cells from ATCC (cat# HB-8065) were grown in growth media(MEM/EBSS (Hyclone cat #SH30024, or Mediatech cat #MT-10-010-CV)+10% FBS(Mediatech cat# MT35-011-CV)+penicillin/streptomycin (Mediatech cat#MT30-002-CI)) at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. One day before the experiment thecells were replated at the density of 1.5×10⁵/ml into 6 well plates andincubated at 37° C. and 5% CO₂. On the day of the experiment the mediain the 6 well plates was changed to fresh growth media. All antisenseoligonucleotides were diluted to the concentration of 20 μM. Two μl ofthis solution was incubated with 400 μl of Opti-MEM media (Gibcocat#31985-070) and 4 μl of Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen cat#11668019)at room temperature for 20 min and applied to each well of the 6 wellplates with HepG2 cells. A Similar mixture including 2 μl of waterinstead of the oligonucleotide solution was used for themock-transfected controls. After 3-18 h of incubation at 37° C. and 5%CO₂ the media was changed to fresh growth media. 48 h after addition ofantisense oligonucleotides the media was removed and RNA was extractedfrom the cells using SV Total RNA Isolation System from Promega (cat#Z3105) or RNeasy Total RNA Isolation kit from Qiagen (cat#74181)following the manufacturers' instructions. 600 ng of RNA was added tothe reverse transcription reaction performed using Verso cDNA kit fromThermo Scientific (cat#AB1453B) or High Capacity cDNA ReverseTranscription Kit (cat#4368813) as described in the manufacturer'sprotocol. The cDNA from this reverse transcription reaction was used tomonitor gene expression by real time PCR using ABI Taqman GeneExpression Mix (cat#4369510) and primers/probes designed by ABI (AppliedBiosystems Taqman Gene Expression Assay: Hs00361131_g1 by AppliedBiosystems Inc., Foster City Calif.). The following PCR cycle was used:50° C. for 2 min, 95° C. for 10 min, 40 cycles of (95° C. for 15seconds, 60° C. for 1 min) using Mx4000 thermal cycler (Stratagene) orStepOne Plus Real Time PCR Machine (Applied Biosystems).

Fold change in gene expression after treatment with antisenseoligonucleotides was calculated based on the difference in18S-normalized dCt values between treated and mock-transfected samples.

Results:

Real time PCR results show that the levels of HBF mRNA in HepG2 cellsare significantly increased 48 h after treatment with one of the siRNAsdesigned to HBF antisense Hs.702397 (FIG. 1A).

Real time PCR results show that the levels of HBF mRNA in HepG2 cellsare significantly increased 48 h after treatment with four of the PSoligos designed to HBF antisense Hs.702397 (FIG. 1B).

Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respectto one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modificationswill occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading andunderstanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. Inaddition, while a particular feature of the invention may have beendisclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, suchfeature may be combined with one or more other features of the otherimplementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given orparticular application.

The Abstract of the disclosure will allow the reader to quicklyascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit thescope or meaning of the following claims.

1. A method of modulating a function of and/or the expression of aHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues in vivoor in vitro comprising: contacting said cells or tissues with at leastone antisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides in length wherein saidat least one oligonucleotide has at least 50% sequence identity to areverse complement of a polynucleotide comprising 5 to 30 consecutivenucleotides within nucleotides 1 to 570 of SEQ ID NO: 3 (FIG. 3);thereby modulating a function of and/or the expression of the Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues in vivo or invitro.
 2. A method of modulating a function of and/or the expression ofa Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide in patient cells or tissues invivo or in vitro comprising: contacting said cells or tissues with atleast one antisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides in lengthwherein said at least one oligonucleotide has at least 50% sequenceidentity to a reverse complement of a natural antisense of a Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) polynucleotide; thereby modulating a function of and/or theexpression of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide in patient cellsor tissues in vivo or in vitro.
 3. A method of modulating a function ofand/or the expression of a Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide inpatient cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro comprising: contacting saidcells or tissues with at least one antisense oligonucleotide 5 to 30nucleotides in length wherein said oligonucleotide has at least 50%sequence identity to an antisense oligonucleotide to the Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) polynucleotide; thereby modulating a function of and/or theexpression of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide in patient cellsor tissues in vivo or in vitro.
 4. A method of modulating a function ofand/or the expression of a Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide inpatient cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro comprising: contacting saidcells or tissues with at least one antisense oligonucleotide thattargets a region of a natural antisense oligonucleotide of theHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide; thereby modulating a function ofand/or the expression of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide inpatient cells or tissues in vivo or in vitro.
 5. The method of claim 4,wherein a function of and/or the expression of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG)is increased in vivo or in vitro with respect to a control.
 6. Themethod of claim 4, wherein the at least one antisense oligonucleotidetargets a natural antisense sequence of a Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG)polynucleotide.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least oneantisense oligonucleotide targets a nucleic acid sequence comprisingcoding and/or non-coding nucleic acid sequences of a Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) polynucleotide.
 8. The method of claim 4, wherein the at leastone antisense oligonucleotide targets overlapping and/or non-overlappingsequences of a Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide.
 9. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the at least one antisense oligonucleotide comprisesone or more modifications selected from: at least one modified sugarmoiety, at least one modified internucleoside linkage, at least onemodified nucleotide, and combinations thereof.
 10. The method of claim9, wherein the one or more modifications comprise at least one modifiedsugar moiety selected from: a 2′-O-methoxyethyl modified sugar moiety, a2′-methoxy modified sugar moiety, a 2′-O-alkyl modified sugar moiety, abicyclic sugar moiety, and combinations thereof.
 11. The method of claim9, wherein the one or more modifications comprise at least one modifiedinternucleoside linkage selected from: a phosphorothioate,2′-Omethoxyethyl (MOE), 2′-fluoro, alkylphosphonate, phosphorodithioate,alkylphosphonothioate, phosphoramidate, carbamate, carbonate, phosphatetriester, acetamidate, carboxymethyl ester, and combinations thereof.12. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more modificationscomprise at least one modified nucleotide selected from: a peptidenucleic acid (PNA), a locked nucleic acid (LNA), an arabino-nucleic acid(FANA), an analogue, a derivative, and combinations thereof.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the at least one oligonucleotide comprises atleast one oligonucleotide sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13.14. A method of modulating a function of and/or the expression of aHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) gene in mammalian cells or tissues in vivo or invitro comprising: contacting said cells or tissues with at least oneshort interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotide 5 to 30 nucleotides inlength, said at least one siRNA oligonucleotide being specific for anantisense polynucleotide of a Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide,wherein said at least one siRNA oligonucleotide has at least 50%sequence identity to a complementary sequence of at least about fiveconsecutive nucleic acids of the antisense and/or sense nucleic acidmolecule of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide; and, modulating afunction of and/or the expression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in mammaliancells or tissues in vivo or in vitro.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein said oligonucleotide has at least 80% sequence identity to asequence of at least about five consecutive nucleic acids that iscomplementary to the antisense and/or sense nucleic acid molecule of theHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide.
 16. A method of modulating afunction of and/or the expression of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in mammaliancells or tissues in vivo or in vitro comprising: contacting said cellsor tissues with at least one antisense oligonucleotide of about 5 to 30nucleotides in length specific for noncoding and/or coding sequences ofa sense and/or natural antisense strand of a Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG)polynucleotide wherein said at least one antisense oligonucleotide hasat least 50% sequence identity to at least one nucleic acid sequence setforth as SEQ ID NOS: 1, 3; and, modulating the function and/orexpression of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) in mammalian cells or tissues invivo or in vitro.
 17. A synthetic, modified oligonucleotide comprisingat least one modification wherein the at least one modification isselected from: at least one modified sugar moiety; at least one modifiedinternucleotide linkage; at least one modified nucleotide, andcombinations thereof; wherein said oligonucleotide is an antisensecompound which hybridizes to and modulates the function and/orexpression of a Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) gene in vivo or in vitro ascompared to a normal control.
 18. The oligonucleotide of claim 17,wherein the at least one modification comprises an internucleotidelinkage selected from the group consisting of: phosphorothioate,alkylphosphonate, phosphorodithioate, alkyl phosphonothioate,phosphoramidate, carbamate, carbonate, phosphate triester, acetamidate,carboxymethyl ester, and combinations thereof.
 19. The oligonucleotideof claim 17, wherein said oligonucleotide comprises at least onephosphorothioate internucleotide linkage.
 20. The oligonucleotide ofclaim 17, wherein said oligonucleotide comprises a backbone ofphosphorothioate internucleotide linkages.
 21. The oligonucleotide ofclaim 17, wherein the oligonucleotide comprises at least one modifiednucleotide, said modified nucleotide selected from: a peptide nucleicacid, a locked nucleic acid (LNA), analogue, derivative, and acombination thereof.
 22. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein theoligonucleotide comprises a plurality of modifications, wherein saidmodifications comprise modified nucleotides selected from:phosphorothioate, alkylphosphonate, phosphorodithioate,alkylphosphonothioate, phosphoramidate, carbamate, carbonate, phosphatetriester, acetamidate, carboxymethyl ester, and a combination thereof.23. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein the oligonucleotidecomprises a plurality of modifications, wherein said modificationscomprise modified nucleotides selected from: peptide nucleic acids,locked nucleic acids (LNA), analogues, derivatives, and a combinationthereof.
 24. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein theoligonucleotide comprises at least one modified sugar moiety selectedfrom: a 2′-O-methoxyethyl modified sugar moiety, a 2′-methoxy modifiedsugar moiety, a 2′-O-alkyl modified sugar moiety, a bicyclic sugarmoiety, and a combination thereof.
 25. The oligonucleotide of claim 17,wherein the oligonucleotide comprises a plurality of modifications,wherein said modifications comprise modified sugar moieties selectedfrom: a 2′-O-methoxyethyl modified sugar moiety, a 2′-methoxy modifiedsugar moiety, a 2′-O-alkyl modified sugar moiety, a bicyclic sugarmoiety, and a combination thereof.
 26. The oligonucleotide of claim 17,wherein the oligonucleotide is of at least about 5 to 30 nucleotides inlength and hybridizes to an antisense and/or sense strand of aHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide wherein said oligonucleotide has atleast about 20% sequence identity to a complementary sequence of atleast about five consecutive nucleic acids of the antisense and/or sensecoding and/or noncoding nucleic acid sequences of the Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) polynucleotide.
 27. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, whereinthe oligonucleotide has at least about 80% sequence identity to acomplementary sequence of at least about five consecutive nucleic acidsof the antisense and/or sense coding and/or noncoding nucleic acidsequence of the Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide.
 28. Theoligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein said oligonucleotide hybridizes toand modulates expression and/or function of at least one Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) polynucleotide in viva or in vitro, as compared to a normalcontrol.
 29. The oligonucleotide of claim 17, wherein theoligonucleotide comprises the sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 4 to13.
 30. A composition comprising one or more oligonucleotides specificfor one or more Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotides, saidpolynucleotides comprising antisense sequences, complementary sequences,alleles, homologs, isoforms, variants, derivatives, mutants, fragments,or combinations thereof.
 31. The composition of claim 30, wherein theoligonucleotides have at least about 40% sequence identity as comparedto any one of the nucleotide sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 4 to 13.32. The composition of claim 30, wherein the oligonucleotides comprisenucleotide sequences set forth as SEQ ID NOS: 4 to
 13. 33. Thecomposition of claim 32, wherein the oligonucleotides set forth as SEQID NOS: 4 to 13 comprise one or more modifications or substitutions. 34.The composition of claim 33, wherein the one or more modifications areselected from: phosphorothioate, methylphosphonate, peptide nucleicacid, locked nucleic acid (LNA) molecules, and combinations thereof. 35.A method of preventing or treating a disease associated with at leastone Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide and/or at least one encodedproduct thereof, comprising: administering to a patient atherapeutically effective dose of at least one antisense oligonucleotidethat binds to a natural antisense sequence of said at least oneHemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide and modulates expression of said atleast one Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide; thereby preventing ortreating the disease associated with the at least one Hemoglobin(HBF/HBG) polynucleotide and/or at least one encoded product thereof.36. The method of claim 35, wherein a disease associated with the atleast one Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG) polynucleotide is selected from: ahematological disease or disorder, a red blood cell disease or disorder,a hematopoietic blood disease or disorder, anemia (e.g., Fanconi'sanemia), thalassemia (e.g., beta-thalassemia etc.), sickle cell disease,leukemia, cellular dyscrasia, dyserythropoiesis, anisocytosis andpoikilocytosis.
 37. A method of identifying and selecting at least oneoligonucleotide for in vivo administration comprising: selecting atarget polynucleotide associated with a disease state; identifying atleast one oligonucleotide comprising at least five consecutivenucleotides which are complementary to the selected targetpolynucleotide or to a polynucleotide that is antisense to the selectedtarget polynucleotide; measuring the thermal melting point of a hybridof an antisense oligonucleotide and the target polynucleotide or thepolynucleotide that is antisense to the selected target polynucleotideunder stringent hybridization conditions; and selecting at least oneoligonucleotide for in vivo administration based on the informationobtained.